Donnelly named freshman all-American by College Sports Journal

[January 24, 2013]  PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- For the second year in a row, the Illinois State football program has had a player named to the College Sports Journal Football Championship Subdivision Freshman All-America Team. Redshirt freshman linebacker Alex Donnelly was selected to the second annual list Tuesday.

Donnelly was one of 63 total players and one of 13 players from the Missouri Valley Football Conference named to this year's list, which represents the only all-freshman team in the FCS. The 63 players are representative of the 63 scholarships allowed to teams that compete in the FCS. The All-Freshman Team was selected by a blue-ribbon panel of FCS experts put together by David Coulson, executive editor of the College Sports Journal, and Chuck Burton, publisher and managing editor of the publication.

Forced into action because of an injury to starting linebacker Austin Davis, Donnelly made four starts at outside linebacker and saw action in all 13 games for the Redbirds. The Kirkland, Wash., native finished the season with 43 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack. He also added three pass breakups, two quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery while playing in different defensive lineups for ISU.

Donnelly had a career day with 10 tackles, a tackle for loss and an interception return for a touchdown in the overtime win against Eastern Illinois. He followed that up with seven tackles and a fumble recovery in a road victory at Western Illinois.

Last year, ISU tight end James O'Shaughnessy and wide receiver/kick returner Donovan Harden were named to the inaugural list by the College Sports Journal.

[Text from news release received from Illinois State University]