Standing at 6 feet and weighing around 220 pounds, No. 31 Dewey McDonald signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent after the 2014 NFL Draft. This West Virginia native arrived from California University of Pennsylvania after transferring in 2012 from Fairmont State University and became part of the active Colts’ roster as a safety in late September 2014.
In his spare time, the 24-year-old has founded his own youth organization dedicated to developing better athletes and people.
The Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper caught up with McDonald earlier this week at Latitude 39 while he and a couple friends met for a friendly game of bowling.
Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper: What is it like building a relationship with a team such as the Colts?
McDonald: It’s been great. The veterans have taken in the rookies and held us under their wing. The rookies have been sticking together and bonding but the veterans let us hang out with them also.
You played in about 12 games last season, what are some of your personal goals for the upcoming season?
My plan is to definitely get better at my craft and hopefully become a starter. Workouts are pretty laid back right now but it will begin cranking up more after August 1 and training camp.
Let’s talk about your youth foundation, The Dewey McDonald Foundation. You’ve been tweeting about it and seem really excited.
It’s raising money for the Jefferson football team at my high school and the Boys and Girls Club. The program is focused on developing our community’s youth into better athletes, students, and people. We will have a golf event June 19 that will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle and following that we will have a charity softball game where proceeds will go toward the football team.
With a spike in violence in places such as Ferguson and Baltimore as the result of police brutality, what advice would you give to today’s youth?
Do what’s right for you and what you see right for yourself. You can’t be someone who follows in the footsteps of others just because everyone else is doing it. A lot of kids want to be “cool,” but many of them aren’t doing the right thing.
It is obvious you like to bowl, what are some of your other favorite hobbies off the field?
I love to shoot pool, but I really do love bowling. We meet at Latitude three or four times a week. I have my own personal bowling balls and shoes (laughs).
Would you consider yourself a good bowler?
I would say so. I bowled a couple of 200’s.
You’re still pretty young. If you weren’t playing football, what would you be doing?
I would probably be working with IBM (International Business Machines Corp.) I was in a similar program in school, but hopefully if not working for IBM, doing something with administration.
For more information about The Dewey McDonald Foundation, visit Deweymcdonaldfoundation.com.
