Donteea Dye, WR out of Division III’s Heidelberg University may be somebody that you aren’t too familiar with. And if you aren’t, you are missing out on what they call a “diamond in the rough”. It hasn’t been an easy journey for Dye but throughout all of the ups & downs, he never gave up on his dream and is now getting ready to hear his name called at some point during the 2015 NFL Draft.

Dye began playing football at the age of 5. He said that he didn’t really have a choice but to play since his dad was his little league coach. Without having any idea how far it could take him, Dye continued playing at Fairfield high school (Cincinnati, Ohio) and was eventually gaining interest from Division I schools. Unfortunately, 6 games into his senior season, Dye suffered a season ending knee injury in which he not only dislocated his knee but also tore his ACL, MCL, and meniscus. From there, all of the interest he was getting from DI schools was lost. Only two schools stayed in contact with Dye after the injury, Marietta College and Heidelberg University. “Two schools that I’ve never heard of a day in my life. I took a visit to Heidelberg (Tiffin, Ohio) and my mind was made up about where I wanted to spend the next four years of my life.” Dye said.

His first year at Heidelberg, Dye didn’t see the field too often. From time to time he would play special teams but that’s about it. As a sophomore, he became a legit offensive weapon for the Student Princes and hauled in 31 receptions, 575 yards, and 4 touchdowns. That season, the speedy, soft-handed wide-receiver helped lead his team to the NCAA Division III Playoffs for the first time in over 20 years. Dye went on to only build off of that season and while his receptions were down his junior year (29), he averaged 25 yards per catch (701 total yards) and brought in 8 touchdowns in only 9 games.

That junior season was Dye’s first wearing the number 11, a number that he holds very near and dear to his heart. When he went down with that ugly knee injury his senior year of high school, he had a teammate by the name of Ken Akuamoah (wore #11), who was one year younger than him and had to fill in for Dye. At the time when he went down with the injury, he didn’t really have much of a relationship with Akuamoah but “he was a WR so he was my brother” Dye said. Throughout that year, Akuamoah was dealing with some pain in his knee as well but wanted to finish out the season until he got it checked out. Once the season was over, Akuamoah visited a doctor and was told that he had cancer in his bone.

“It was rough for me to watch him go through that. Me dealing with my injury and him dealing with Cancer, my injury didn’t compare! I told him that I would do anything in my power to help him. I would take him to school, bring him home, brought him food, literally anything he wanted I’d do it for him. I felt like I owed it to him because he came in for me when I went down, so why not support him. He had to get part of his bone removed from his leg and was told that he could never play football again. When he told me that news, I said to him that if I ever got the chance to play football again that I will play for him. A few months later, I committed to Heidelberg University and told him that I will still do this for him. When I entered, I tried to change my number to 11 but it was taken by a junior. Ken’s jersey number was 11 so since I couldn’t wear his number on my back, I wrote it on my cleats. That was my way of still representing him. My junior year was when I was able to get the number 11, I began to write his initials K.A. on my cleats. We kept in contact throughout my 4 years here in college. We still do. And to this day, I will keep my promise to him & play for him because he had his opportunity taken away from him.” Akuamoah has been and always will be an inspiration for Dye.

During his senior year at Heidelberg University, Dye knew that he was due for another impactful season. He actually stayed at school over summer break, working out, getting ready for the season. The time he spent bettering himself that summer was the most that he’s ever put into an offseason and looking back, it certainly paid off. Opposing teams would have to game plan around Donteea Dye. And that still wasn’t enough. He was the vocal-point of the Student Princes offense and led the team with 57 receptions, 1,022 yards, and 14 touchdowns. “I knew that my senior year was going to be something special because I believe that hard work pays and I had been working months
for that season. I set goals for myself before the season started, its something I do every year. I wanted to hit 1,000 yards receiving, 10 touchdowns, win conference and the national championship. When you put your mind to something that you really want, pray on it and you’ll achieve it. You just have to do what’s best for you and your situation.”

Even after that stellar senior season, Dye wasn’t entirely sure what was next. He went onto participate in the NFL Regional Combine in Chicago and after impressing the scouts that were in attendance with his 4.50 forty-yard dash, 4.25 shuttle, 10’1″ broad jump, & 36″ vertical, he got an invite to the Super Regional Combine in Arizona. “When I received the call about the invitation to the Super Regional, I was estatic. I couldn’t stop screaming and smiling. I remember as soon as I hung up the phone, the first thing I said was “Thank you Lord!””

Dye also went on to participate in Bowling Green’s pro-day where he improved his numbers from the Chicago Regional Combine. He ran a 4.45 forty, 4.19 shuttle, 7.02 L-cone, 11.52 in the 60 yard shuttle, 10’3″ broad jump 36.5″ vertical, and benched 17 reps of 225lbs. If he wasn’t on any NFL teams radars before the regional combines/pro-day, I’m almost certain that he is now. I asked Dye when it was when he realized that playing in the NFL may not only be a dream but it could become a reality and he said “It hit me after my pro day in March. After speaking to a handful of scouts after I finished performing that day, it opened my eyes and I finally realized that this thing could actually happen for me.”

As Dye continues to get ready to play at the next level, he says that seeing former Division III WR’s, Pierre Garcon, Cecil Shorts III, & former Heidelberg teammate, Michael Preston all in the NFL is something that inspires him. Preston is currently on the Miami Dolphins and gives Dye advice that he finds very useful. “He kept up with me during my senior season and we stay in contact now. We talk a couple times a week, just staying in touch. He is also a man who believes in Jesus Christ so he gives me these talks that keeps me humble but hungry.” said Dye.

While his future is looking bright, Dye knows that he still has to improve certain parts of his game in order to continue to succeed. One aspect of his game that he wants to get better at is his route running. Something that no wide-receiver can be perfect at.

We are less than 3 weeks away from the 2015 NFL Draft and while Dye awaits that very special phone call, he says that “I am still going to continue to work hard, train, and have the same mindset I had coming into this situation. Nothing is going to change my work ethic. I just have to continue to pray and have patience thru this whole process.” When I asked Dye what it would mean to just be given the opportunity to play in the National Football League, he said “It would mean the absolute world to me. Not a lot of people can say that they have the opportunity to play in the NFL and I know people that would kill for this position that I am in. I’m just trying to make my family proud of me and give my nephew someone to look up to.”

Donteea Dye is a man on a mission and it doesn’t look like anybody is going to stop him from reaching his dream. Remember the name, because there’s a chance that once his career is over, it will be added to the long list of small school standouts that had success at the pro-level. I look forward to covering Dye’s career in the pros and wish him all the best.

Christian Shanafelt
Twitter: @ChrisShanafelt