Norwood Native Greg Donahue Emerges as Top NFL Prospect at University of New Hampshire-September 29, 1979

Imagine reporting to the opening day of football practice all smiles and ready to go, only to peek over your shoulder and find out there are 31 other candidates trying out for your exact position. Faced with such a disheartening problem, some athletes might try out for another position or perhaps give it all up and join the glee club. But not Greg Donahue.

Overcoming Long Odds at Bridgton Academy

Donahue, a standout linebacker for the University of New Hampshire football team, set a goal for himself and relentlessly went out and attained it. The 6-foot-1, 232-pound Norwood native realized he had his work cut out for him five years ago at Bridgton Academy when he was among 32 players battling it out for just two open linebacker positions. Yet, he never gave up.

“I was really discouraged at first when I saw all those other players,” admitted Donahue in the aftermath of UNH’s 41-28 loss to Boston University. “But I was determined that nothing was going to get in my way. I wanted it too much. I knew that I would have a good chance of making it if I kept on plugging. And that’s what I did. I didn’t let up at all. Not for a minute. That’s why I finally made it.”

Transitioning to Linebacker for a Professional Future

Succeeding as he did was a vital accomplishment in Donahue’s athletic career. Having played as an offensive lineman at Norwood High School, he recognized the necessity of changing positions to enhance his professional prospects.

“I knew that with my size I would be too small to play on the line in the pros,” said the 22-year-old senior. “I figured that the only place for me in making it in pro ball was at linebacker. And a lot of coaches I talked with said the same thing.”

Now in his fourth year as a starting inside linebacker at UNH, Donahue is widely regarded as one of the top pro prospects at his position in the East. Following a stellar junior campaign where he led the Wildcats with 86 unassisted tackles and 72 assists, he has continued his dominant play, racking up a team-high 42 tackles in just three games—including 20 tackles against Holy Cross that earned him ECAC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

“He’s one of the best linebackers around,” said UNH head coach Bill Bowes. “Some of the things I’ve seen him do have just amazed me. You couldn’t ask for more from a player. He gives all he’s got every game.”

NFL Scouts and Family Support

The supreme judges of football talent, National Football League scouts, have taken notice. “Greg is a very tenacious type of football player,” noted an anonymous NFL scout. “He’s a really aggressive tackler. I’ve seen him three times this season, and I’m definitely coming back to see him again.”

Alongside professional scouts, Donahue receives close weekly evaluations from his father, a retired Boston police officer. “My father comes to all my games,” Donahue said. “He watches me very closely, and then tells me how I did after the game. Sometimes he can’t wait, though, and he’ll come over to me during the game and tell me how I’m doing.” He recalls that when he was in the ninth grade, his parents were initially hesitant about him playing football “because I just had gotten braces and they didn’t want to see $3,000 dollars going down the drain.”

Following in the footsteps of former UNH inside linebackers Dave Rozumek (Kansas City Chiefs) and Bruce Huther (Dallas Cowboys) who reached the NFL, Donahue remains intensely focused on his professional aspirations. “I’m looking forward to playing pro ball,” he said. “I just love the game, and I don’t want to do anything else right now. I’m confident I can make it my first year. If not, then I’ll go back until I do make it. No one can stop me from trying.”

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger