Donnie Little facts for kids

Donnie Little, born on October 14, 1959, is a former American football player. He was a talented quarterback for the Texas Longhorns from 1978 to 1980. In 1978, he made history as the first Black quarterback to play for the University of Texas. Many believe he helped "open doors" for other Black quarterbacks at Texas, like James Brown and Vince Young.

Early Life and High School Football

Donnie Little was born in Dickinson, Texas. He graduated from Dickinson High School in 1978. He started playing high school football during his junior year. His coach encouraged Black students to join the team.

Little helped his team reach the state playoffs in 1976. In 1977, Dickinson High won the Class 3A Football State Championship. Little was their quarterback. In the championship game, he set a Texas record. He rushed for 255 yards, which was the most in a state championship game at that time.

Donnie was also a great baseball player in high school. He played shortstop and pitcher. In his senior year, he hit over .400 and pitched two no-hitters.

College Football Career at Texas

Donnie Little chose to play for the University of Texas. He had many offers from other top schools, including Oklahoma. He played for Texas from 1978 to 1981. He became the first Black quarterback to play for the Longhorns. Donnie also wanted to play baseball in college. However, his football coach, Fred Akers, wanted him to focus only on football.

Freshman Season (1978)

In his first year, Donnie shared quarterback duties. He played alongside Randy McEachern and Mark McBath. Donnie got his first start against North Texas State. This happened after he played well in the Oklahoma game. However, he had some fumbles early in the game. Randy McEachern then took over and led the team to a win. Donnie continued as a backup. His season ended early due to a thumb injury during the Baylor game.

Sophomore Season (1979)

Donnie Little became the main quarterback in 1979. He started the first nine games. The team won eight of those games and was ranked as high as #2 in the country. He missed part of the Rice game due to a thumb injury. He also shared time with backup Rick McIvor against Texas Tech. Two weeks later, Donnie got injured again with two sprained ankles. This injury kept him out for the rest of the season. With McIvor as quarterback, the Longhorns finished the season with a 1–2 record.

Junior Season (1980)

Donnie was again the starting quarterback at the start of the 1980 season. He had a great start, setting a school record. He passed for 306 yards in a game against Rice. The team won five games in a row, including a big win over #12 Oklahoma. This pushed them to #2 in the rankings.

However, Texas then lost two games in a row. Donnie was benched in both games for Rick McIvor. McIvor then became the starter for the Houston game. Texas won that game, but McIvor got injured. This gave the starting job back to Donnie. He had an amazing game against TCU. He completed 12 passes in a row and had 334 total yards. He also scored two touchdowns in a 51–26 win. But in the next game against Baylor, he struggled. He threw for only 7 yards and had two interceptions in a 16–0 loss. He was benched again.

In the final game against Texas A&M, Donnie helped the Longhorns get an early lead. But he left the game with another injury. This was his third straight season ending early due to injury. This game was his last as a Texas quarterback.

Senior Season (1981) as Wide Receiver

In the spring of 1981, Donnie Little changed positions. He moved to wide receiver. He felt that his best chance to play professionally was not as a quarterback. He wanted to show his skills in a new role. He became the Longhorns' top receiver that season. He was also their second-best punt returner.

In his first game as a receiver against Rice, he caught a 65-yard touchdown pass. He also caught a game-winning 45-yard touchdown pass against #14 Miami. His best game as a receiver was in the Cotton Bowl against #3 Alabama. This was the only bowl game he was healthy enough to play in. He gained 105 total yards. He also tied a Cotton Bowl record for most receptions in a game.

Over his college career, Donnie played in 29 games. He led the team in total offense in 1979 and 1980. He passed for 2,067 yards, had 338 receiving yards, and rushed for 1,334 yards. As a starting quarterback, his record was 15 wins and 5 losses. He is considered one of the All-Time Top 10 Longhorn Quarterbacks.

Records Set by Donnie Little

Donnie Little set several records during his time at the University of Texas and in the Cotton Bowl:

• UT – Most passing yards in a game (306 yards). This record was later broken by Todd Dodge in 1985.
• UT – Most total offense in a game (392 yards). This record was later broken by Major Applewhite in 1998.
• UT – Most games with over 300 yards of total offense in a season (2 games). This record was tied by James Brown and Ricky Williams. It was later broken by Major Applewhite in 1999.
• UT – Most games with over 300 yards of total offense in a career (2 games). This record was tied by Bret Stafford and later broken by James Brown.
• UT – Lowest percentage of passes intercepted in a career (5.6%, minimum 300 passes). This record was later broken by Bret Stafford in 1987.
• Cotton Bowl – Most receptions in a game (5 receptions). He tied Tom Gatewood's record. This record was later broken by Gerard Phelan in 1985.

After College Football

Many people were surprised when Donnie Little was not chosen in the NFL draft. He signed with the Atlanta Falcons as a free agent. However, he was cut from the team before the season started.

Donnie then played for the CFL's Ottawa Rough Riders. He played as a wide receiver, quarterback, punt returner, and kickoff returner. He played with former Oklahoma quarterback and future congressman J.C. Watts. Donnie was considered one of the best athletes on the team. However, in his second season in 1983, he suffered a severe knee injury. This injury ended his playing career.

In 1986, Donnie tried to start a career in professional baseball. He played semi-pro baseball for the Austin Collegiates. At the same time, he finished his degree in communications. After his sports career, Donnie worked for the University of Texas. He spent 24 years as a fundraiser for the Longhorn Foundation. As of 2025, he is an athletic director in Tyler, Texas.

Awards and Recognition

In May 2013, Donnie Little was honored for his achievements. He was inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame.