Sonnie anxious to play again after knee surgery

By John Bassetti

Currently rehabbing a knee injury, Sonnie enters his sixth season in af2 — his third with the Thunder.

NILES — He jogged solo around the boundary lines of the soccer field inside the Infante Wellness Center for two weeks earlier this month, while his teammates were participating in drills in preparation for the af2 season.

Wally Sonnie was still rehabbing from a knee injury incurred in May 2008 in Louisville, Ky.

The man with the most af2 experience of any Thunder player — 5 years — had ACL surgery in December.

“I’ve got to wait, but I’ll probably be back the second game,” said Sonnie, who is designated as physically OK, but not yet cleared to play.

“It was a slow process,” said Sonnie. “Six weeks after surgery, I was on crutches. Then I wasn’t allowed to run for six weeks, only walk on a treadmill. Once I got to Mahoning Valley, I was allowed to start running on it.”

Sonnie was still experiencing discomfort, but dismissed it.

“If you play football for a day, you’re in discomfort,” he said of the injury, torn cartilage in his right knee.

“I had cartilage chipped away off the bone,” the 6-foot-2, 320-pound Sonnie said of the corrective procedure.

Sonnie was playing center when the injury occurred during the fourth play of a game against the Fire.

“I just felt something pop. It felt funny and I wasn’t able to put pressure on it after that,” he said.

“I don’t know [what position] I’m going to play,” said Sonnie, who hopes to be cleared for the Milwaukee game (second game) or the third game (Tulsa away) at the latest.

Sonnie is one of only two third-year Thunder players. Kicker Derek Schorejs is the other.

Sonnie gave his assessment of talent this year compared to the first two.

“I was only here for six games the first year, so it’s tough to gauge, but, compared to last year, the talent is bigger, faster, stronger this year. It’s a more athletic group of guys and there was competition during camp that wasn’t there last year. I wish I had been more a part of it.”

Sonnie said he also tore the ACL in the same knee in college.

The 28-year-old Sonnie just finished his degree in December and was a substitute teacher at West Geauga High where he also helped coach football.

He finished requirements for his bachelor’s degree at Kent State.

Sonnie has started 21 games for the Thunder in two seasons.

At Ashland, he earned four letters as an offensive lineman under coach Gary Keller. Sonnie was All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference second-team in 2003 as offensive lineman.

His other professional experience was a training camp stint with the AFL’s Utah Blaze in 2008.

As center, Sonnie sets the huddle and then points out where defensive players are.

“The center’s got one gap and helps either the fullback or another lineman in the other gap,” Sonnie said of the position’s responsibilities.

The snap to the quarterback isn’t a big deal indoors even though plays unfold faster.

“The quarterback’s got to get out of there quicker than outdoors, but for a center, it’s a minor adjustment.”

He reiterated that, the majority of the time, the fullback will help the center to the play side, while also watching and blocking the backside. The fullback and center have to block the nose and strong-side linebacker the majority of the time.”

An af2 rule states that defensive linemen aren’t allowed to stunt, switch or slash their way past offensive linemen en route to the passer.

Instead, they are required to power their way across the line of scrimmage.

bassetti@vindy.com