From the moment Donye McClesky put on a Sycamore uniform, you could sense he was going to be a player. In his first game as a Sycamore, he blocked a Purdue punt and fell on the ball in the end zone to score his first career touchdown. For his efforts against the Boilermakers, he was named Gateway Football Conference Special Teams Player of the Week.
Now headed into his senior campaign, McClesky plans to continue building his Sycamore legacy. Building off his junior season that saw him rack up 98 tackles (53 solo, 4 for loss), two interceptions, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries, Donye has no plans to slow down now. He was named to the preseason All-MVC honorable mention squad as well as a Sycamore team captain and he has grand plans for the 2009 football season.
SycamoreFootball.com: List two personal goals you have set for yourself this season:
Donye McCleskey: To do everything in my power to win and to motivate every player on the team into believing that we can win.
SycamoreFootball.com: If you weren’t playing football at Indiana State, what other sport and position would you be playing?
Donye McCleskey: Basketball... small forward.
SycamoreFootball.com: Who has been the most impressive athlete you have lined up against in high school or college?
Donye McCleskey: Javon Ringer, who now plays running back for the Tennesse Titans.
SycamoreFootball.com: Who is your favorite musical artist or band?
Donye McCleskey: 2pac Shakur... He's the greatest.
[ido=left]250[/ido][imgpic]http://www.sycamorehoops.com/images/players/donye_mccleskey.jpg[/imgpic][cap]Face of the Program: McCleskey's blood, sweat and tears are Sycamore blue[/cap][idc][/idc]
SycamoreFootball.com: Which actor would you want to play the role of you in the movie about your life?
Donye McCleskey: Denzel Washington.
SycamoreFootball.com: What is your football tip for kids?
Donye McCleskey: If you believe it, you can achieve it. I came from nothing and look at me now.
SycamoreFootball.com: What is the best football advice someone ever gave you?
Donye McCleskey: Coach Edmond Jones said: "Winning isn't always about what team comes out with the victory, it's actually about the play-by-play battles between you and the player that lines up across from you." Every single play since I've won 98% of the battles between me and the player across from me... in my mind I have never lost a single game!
SycamoreFootball.com: Where were you born?
Donye McCleskey: Dayton, Ohio.
SycamoreFootball.com: What is your nickname?
Donye McCleskey: Yeyo
SycamoreFootball.com: What is your favorite TV show?
Donye McCleskey: George Lopez and Family Guy.
SycamoreFootball.com: What is your favorite thing to do in your spare time?
Donye McCleskey: In my spare time, I plan. I'm a thinker.
SycamoreFootball.com: If you could appear on any television show, which one would it be and what character would you play?
Donye McCleskey: It would be 106 and park. I would be a guest.
SycamoreFootball.com: What is your favorite movie?
Donye McCleskey: My favorite movie is Scarface.
SycamoreFootball.com: Who was your hero growing up?
Donye McCleskey: My father was my hero. He saved my life... he will tell you too.
SycamoreFootball.com: Where are your favorite travel destinations?
Donye McCleskey: I love California and I would like to go to the Bahamas.
SycamoreFootball.com: What is your major?
Donye McCleskey: Construction management.
SycamoreFootball.com: What are your favorite and least favorite subjects in college?
Donye McCleskey: I don't really have a favorite subject in college, but I hate English. I hate writing papers, it's boring. * Laughs *
SycamoreFootball.com: What is your biggest fear?
Donye McCleskey: My biggest fear is not being as successful as I'd like to be... thats scary!
SycamoreFootball.com: What is your biggest ambition?
Donye McCleskey: My biggest ambition is to make money and help other people make money!
SycamoreFootball.com: What is your favorite holiday?
Donye McCleskey: My favorite holiday is New Years. It's a blessing to see another year and to be able to set new goals to reach.
SycamoreFootball.com: What is your game-day superstition or ritual?
Donye McCleskey: I won't leave my house without my lucky football necklace.
SycamoreFootball.com: If you had one wish, what would it be?
Donye McCleskey: To have an undefeated season this year.
SycamoreFootball.com: What is the story behind your jersey number?
Donye McCleskey: I am apart of a movement called MAJOR. It's purpose is to open up people's minds and force them into thinking bigger, setting higher goals and doing major things. If you put my number in front of MAJOR, it says 2 MAJOR.
SycamoreFootball.com: What is one word that describes you?
Donye McCleskey: One word that describes me is ambitious.
SycamoreFootball.com: What is your earliest football memory?
Donye McCleskey: My earliest football memory is skipping my first practice ever. I went to the park to hangout instead. * Laughs *
SycamoreFootball.com: What is your greatest football memory?
Donye McCleskey: My greatest football memory was in high school when I had like 15 tackles and 2 defensive touchdowns and the second touchdown was the game winner!
SycamoreFootball.com: Who has been a great inspiration in your life and why?
Donye McCleskey: My father (Daryl McCleskey Sr.) -- No other guy in my family had a father and I didn't have one for years, but he came back and he forced me to do the right thing. He could have easily given up on me and let me live the way I wanted, but he didn't. He saved my life. Without him, I would have never made it this far. I do alot of what I do just to make him proud. That sounds like a hero to me.
SycamoreFootball.com: What player on Indiana State will surprise people in 2009?
Donye McCleskey: The player that will surprise people is Ryan Roberts. He will shock people this season. I can't wait to watch him play.
SycamoreFootball.com: What one word defines Coach Miles?
Donye McCleskey: CHANGE. When I think about Coach Miles, I think about change for this football program, change for this school and change for this town. He has driven a team that hasn't won in years to become winners by winning the battle of doing things right. Now the wins will come.
SycamoreFootball.com: Finally, finish this sentence. Indiana State will surprise people in 2009 because:
Donye McCleskey: We will surprise people because we will win games... many games!
Now headed into his senior campaign, McClesky plans to continue building his Sycamore legacy. Building off his junior season that saw him rack up 98 tackles (53 solo, 4 for loss), two interceptions, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries, Donye has no plans to slow down now. He was named to the preseason All-MVC honorable mention squad as well as a Sycamore team captain and he has grand plans for the 2009 football season.
SycamoreFootball.com: List two personal goals you have set for yourself this season:
Donye McCleskey: To do everything in my power to win and to motivate every player on the team into believing that we can win.
SycamoreFootball.com: If you weren’t playing football at Indiana State, what other sport and position would you be playing?
Donye McCleskey: Basketball... small forward.
SycamoreFootball.com: Who has been the most impressive athlete you have lined up against in high school or college?
Donye McCleskey: Javon Ringer, who now plays running back for the Tennesse Titans.
SycamoreFootball.com: Who is your favorite musical artist or band?
Donye McCleskey: 2pac Shakur... He's the greatest.
[ido=left]250[/ido][imgpic]http://www.sycamorehoops.com/images/players/donye_mccleskey.jpg[/imgpic][cap]Face of the Program: McCleskey's blood, sweat and tears are Sycamore blue[/cap][idc][/idc]
SycamoreFootball.com: Which actor would you want to play the role of you in the movie about your life?
Donye McCleskey: Denzel Washington.
SycamoreFootball.com: What is your football tip for kids?
Donye McCleskey: If you believe it, you can achieve it. I came from nothing and look at me now.
SycamoreFootball.com: What is the best football advice someone ever gave you?
Donye McCleskey: Coach Edmond Jones said: "Winning isn't always about what team comes out with the victory, it's actually about the play-by-play battles between you and the player that lines up across from you." Every single play since I've won 98% of the battles between me and the player across from me... in my mind I have never lost a single game!
SycamoreFootball.com: Where were you born?
Donye McCleskey: Dayton, Ohio.
SycamoreFootball.com: What is your nickname?
Donye McCleskey: Yeyo
SycamoreFootball.com: What is your favorite TV show?
Donye McCleskey: George Lopez and Family Guy.
SycamoreFootball.com: What is your favorite thing to do in your spare time?
Donye McCleskey: In my spare time, I plan. I'm a thinker.
SycamoreFootball.com: If you could appear on any television show, which one would it be and what character would you play?
Donye McCleskey: It would be 106 and park. I would be a guest.
SycamoreFootball.com: What is your favorite movie?
Donye McCleskey: My favorite movie is Scarface.
SycamoreFootball.com: Who was your hero growing up?
Donye McCleskey: My father was my hero. He saved my life... he will tell you too.
SycamoreFootball.com: Where are your favorite travel destinations?
Donye McCleskey: I love California and I would like to go to the Bahamas.
SycamoreFootball.com: What is your major?
Donye McCleskey: Construction management.
SycamoreFootball.com: What are your favorite and least favorite subjects in college?
Donye McCleskey: I don't really have a favorite subject in college, but I hate English. I hate writing papers, it's boring. * Laughs *
SycamoreFootball.com: What is your biggest fear?
Donye McCleskey: My biggest fear is not being as successful as I'd like to be... thats scary!
SycamoreFootball.com: What is your biggest ambition?
Donye McCleskey: My biggest ambition is to make money and help other people make money!
SycamoreFootball.com: What is your favorite holiday?
Donye McCleskey: My favorite holiday is New Years. It's a blessing to see another year and to be able to set new goals to reach.
SycamoreFootball.com: What is your game-day superstition or ritual?
Donye McCleskey: I won't leave my house without my lucky football necklace.
SycamoreFootball.com: If you had one wish, what would it be?
Donye McCleskey: To have an undefeated season this year.
SycamoreFootball.com: What is the story behind your jersey number?
Donye McCleskey: I am apart of a movement called MAJOR. It's purpose is to open up people's minds and force them into thinking bigger, setting higher goals and doing major things. If you put my number in front of MAJOR, it says 2 MAJOR.
SycamoreFootball.com: What is one word that describes you?
Donye McCleskey: One word that describes me is ambitious.
SycamoreFootball.com: What is your earliest football memory?
Donye McCleskey: My earliest football memory is skipping my first practice ever. I went to the park to hangout instead. * Laughs *
SycamoreFootball.com: What is your greatest football memory?
Donye McCleskey: My greatest football memory was in high school when I had like 15 tackles and 2 defensive touchdowns and the second touchdown was the game winner!
SycamoreFootball.com: Who has been a great inspiration in your life and why?
Donye McCleskey: My father (Daryl McCleskey Sr.) -- No other guy in my family had a father and I didn't have one for years, but he came back and he forced me to do the right thing. He could have easily given up on me and let me live the way I wanted, but he didn't. He saved my life. Without him, I would have never made it this far. I do alot of what I do just to make him proud. That sounds like a hero to me.
SycamoreFootball.com: What player on Indiana State will surprise people in 2009?
Donye McCleskey: The player that will surprise people is Ryan Roberts. He will shock people this season. I can't wait to watch him play.
SycamoreFootball.com: What one word defines Coach Miles?
Donye McCleskey: CHANGE. When I think about Coach Miles, I think about change for this football program, change for this school and change for this town. He has driven a team that hasn't won in years to become winners by winning the battle of doing things right. Now the wins will come.
SycamoreFootball.com: Finally, finish this sentence. Indiana State will surprise people in 2009 because:
Donye McCleskey: We will surprise people because we will win games... many games!
