A work ethic to emulate

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DeKalb senior Dylan Donnelly is set to play his final prep football game tonight when the Barbs play host to Rochelle on senior night at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. The quarterback/receiver/defensive back has played a part in seven of the Barbs’ 12 touchdowns this season. (Rob Winner – rwinner@daily-chronicle.com)

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DeKALB – The black, neoprene-elbow sleeve fits snugly on Dylan Donnelly’s right arm.

He peels it away to reveal a scar. The pale-skinned remnant of an incision serves as a reminder of the time in eighth grade he was told he never would play sports again.

If the multi-talented utility man of the DeKalb football team – who has been an impact player as a receiver, defensive back, running back and quarterback – didn’t seek a second opinion, he might be suffering through an inactive life right now.  

Instead, he had surgery, rehabbed for six months and as a senior has been the Barbs’ best player, the one teams focus their game plan around.

The Barbs have scored 12 touchdowns in 2009. Donnelly has been part of seven of them as a receiver, quarterback or defensive back.

“I felt like the laziest kid of all time,” Donnelly said about the time he spent rehabbing his elbow as a freshman. “I am the most active person ever. I hate sitting down.”

Originally injured during a fall in basketball, Donnelly threw a baseball in the spring and could see a portion of his elbow jetting out unnaturally. He went to a Chicago doctor for a second opinion who wasn’t as foreboding.

“When they told me I wasn’t going to play sports again that was motivation right there,” Donnelly said.

When the Barbs (1-7, 0-6) play host to Rochelle (5-3, 3-2) at 7:30 p.m. tonight on senior night at Huskie Stadium, Donnelly will cap a prep football career brought to its apex because of an intense work ethic.

“Dylan is a special athlete,” DeKalb coach Marty Sanders said. “We aren’t going to get a team full of players like him. Players like Dylan Donnelly or Marckie Hayes just don’t run through your hallways every year. Players like him are sprinkled in. What we need are about 20 kids that maybe aren’t as talented, but are going to work just as hard.”

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