Seattle native Lisowski gets second try with Seahawks
Aug 21, 2012, 1:30 PM | Updated: 1:31 pm
By Bill Swartz
As the old saying goes in football, stay ready, you never know when you might get a phone call.
That was the case for Seattle native Donny Lisowski. Two weeks ago he was released so the Seahawks could have a spot for receiver Terrell Owens. The rookie cornerback is back on the Seahawks’ 90-man roster after Seattle released defensive end Dexter Davis on Monday.
Lisowski hails from Seattle’s O’Dea High School, which has an athletic program that’s produced professional football and basketball players galore. Lisowski was a standout performer in wrestling, track and football, playing both option quarterback and safety.
He always dreamed of playing for his hometown NFL team. In fact, he met some of his Seahawks idols when his prep squad visited Qwest Field.
“I got a sideline pass for one of the games and was wearing my O’Dea jacket, and another O’Dea grad, Nate Burleson, came up,” Lisowski recalled. “It was a pretty fun experience.”
Recruited by coach Bobby Hauck, Lisowski wound up at the University of Montana, where he excelled on special teams. He’s listed at just 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds. The Seahawks coaching staff liked Lisowki’s heart, effort, and work ethic in minicamp.
“I’ve always been a guy no matter what, I’m just going to give it my all,” he said earlier in training camp. “You can never fault effort. I think I’m as fast as any one out here, so now I’ll just control what I can control, and get better every day.”
Don’t blame Lisowski if he’s a little bit awe struck learning from his favorite Seahawk, Marcus Trufant.
“Obviously, I was watching him play when I was in high school, and he’s a little bit more technique-sound than me,” Lisowski joked. “There’s a lot to learn from him.”
I’ve been told the great corners have a certain wiggle and flexibility in their hips. Lisowski says he’s got plenty of wiggle, and is convinced he’s as fast as any player on Seattle’s roster.
Lisowski is just a few credits short of getting his college degree. Some day he might like to try law school. For the time being, that’s on hold as he pursues his primary passion, playing football for the hometown team.
