Doug Donley was drafted No. 53 overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1981 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. 43 regular-season games · 7 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #53
- Round
- 2
- Draft class
- 1981
- NFL games
- 43
- Career AV
- 7141st at Ohio State
The pick
How Doug Donley came off the board in 1981.
- Position
- Wide receiver WR
- College
-
Ohio State
Big Ten at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Offense
NFL career
43 regular-season games · 7 career approximate value
- Games played
- 43
- Career approximate value
- 7141st among Ohio State picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 7100% of career value
- Final season
- 19843 years after the draft
Around pick 53
Who came off the board on either side of Doug Donley.
Pittsburgh · Hall of Fame · 6× Pro Bowl
Nebraska
LSU
Utah
Ohio State in the 1981 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other WR picks from Ohio State
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
Michael Thomas
WR · NO · 2016
Ohio State · 2× All-Pro · 3× Pro Bowl
#76
Terry McLaurin
WR · WAS · 2019
Ohio State · 2× Pro Bowl
#20
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
WR · SEA · 2023
Ohio State · 1× All-Pro · 2× Pro Bowl
#7
Terry Glenn
WR · NE · 1996
Ohio State · 1× Pro Bowl
#8
David Boston
WR · ARI · 1999
Ohio State · 1× All-Pro · 1× Pro Bowl
#8
Joey Galloway
WR · SEA · 1995
Ohio State
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Doug Donley in the 1981 NFL Draft
Doug Donley is a Wide receiver out of Ohio State selected No. 53 overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1981 NFL Draft. 43 regular-season games · 7 career approximate value Ohio State has produced 284 NFL draft picks since 1980.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Doug Donley drafted?
Doug Donley was selected No. 53 overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1981 NFL Draft (Rd 2). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/doug-donley.
What college did Doug Donley play for?
Doug Donley played college football at Ohio State in the Big Ten. See every Ohio State draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/ohio-state-buckeyes.
How did Doug Donley's NFL career turn out?
43 regular-season games · 7 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/doug-donley.