Dylan D'Atri's head seared with pain. All day long as D'Atri walked the halls at Bishop Walsh High School in Cumberland, Md., the migraines persisted. He couldn't think. He felt dizzy. He could barely see straight. And when the pain became unbearable, he went to a doctor.

Evidently D'Atri had more than just severe migraines. The doctors diagnosed him with a rare brain condition known as Chiari malformation, which results from the cerebellum blocking the flow of cerebral spinal fluid in the back of the skull. The condition wasn't life threatening, but without surgery his headaches would persist.

"I didn't know what to think when I heard the diagnosis," D'Atri said. "Surgery is scary. But I got through it."

D'Atri began having problems in February, a few months after football season. He had just completed a stellar sophomore campaign in which he established himself as one of the elite running backs in Western Maryland. He finished ninth in the state with 1,257 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns.

But after the diagnosis, his football career was in question. D'Atri, however, never had a doubt he'd be back on the gridiron by spring.

"I wasn't going to let that limit me or ruin my football career," D'Atri said.

After the surgery, D'Atri spent one month resting, forcing him to miss the end of basketball season. But by March he started to feel better. And by the end of the month the doctors cleared him to start training again.

D'Atri lost his signature strength and bulk during the rest and recovery period. He's just now starting to work back into form.

"I had a lot of catching up to do," D'Atri said. "I've been working out and going to a lot of combines and camps to get my strength and speed back."

So far the recovery is going well for the humble, soft-spoken 6-foot-1, 215-pound running back. D'Atri is almost back to 2008 form, according to Bishop Walsh coach Mike Page.

"He just needs to get in the weight room," Page said. "Once he gets his weight back up the sky is the limit."

Anyone who has seen D'Atri run believes he's a special talent. That includes opponents, coaches and colleges. The only one unconvinced is D'Atri himself.

"I'm not even sure I am a special runner," D'Atri said. "I had a good season, but I couldn't have done it without my line and everyone else doing their jobs."

Sure, but the linemen weren't carrying linebackers for 15-yard piggyback rides. The linemen didn't have four three-touchdown games and four 150-plus rushing-yard games. The linemen didn't have a 16-carry, 271-yard, three-touchdown explosion against Clear Spring.

Still, D'Atri refused to take credit. He couldn't even pick out any memorable moments from 2008. Except one.

"Winning," he said. "We hadn't been doing a lot of that lately."

Bishop Walsh had better get used to it as long as D'Atri is running the ball. He is a self-described bruiser in the mold of Giants running back Brandon Jacobs. He isn't particularly fast -- he only runs a 4.7 in the 40-yard dash – but his power more than compensates.

"He just keeps his legs going," Page said. "Dylan keeps his feet moving nonstop and he drives through with his hips. He delivers a blow, and he has a burst going into contact. You don't see that on the high school level."

D'Atri demonstrated that leg power last year against Randolph Macon. D'Atri suffered an injury the week before, so he was limited to third-down duty. That didn't stop him.

On one particular third-and-long play, Bishop Walsh called for a simple dive up the middle. D'Atri took the handoff and ran straight into the waiting arms of a Macon linebacker. But he kept his feet moving, busted out of the tackle and broke to the outside. D'Atri eluded the pursuing linebackers and scampered 40 yards down the sideline before being pushed out of bounds.

"That showed everything Dylan could do," Page said. "He can hit you, run through you and he can hit the sideline and get the ball upfield."

Page said that D'Atri has deceptive speed. He may not have straight-line track speed, but on the football field he can motor.

"He does need to get faster, but in two years, I've never seen the kid get caught from behind," Page said.

So far, colleges don't seem to be overly concerned with D'Atri's 4.7 40. Already two Division I schools are eyeing him up. West Virginia sent a recruiter to Bishop Walsh last week. He asked Page for D'Atri's game film and invited him to their camp in June. Duke has also been in contact; they've seen D'Atri's film and send a letter at least once a week, according to Page.

"If he keeps working hard, he'll be a Division I kid," Page said.

A humble kid from the backwoods of Cumberland who goes from the operating table to Division I college football? Sounds like a dream.

Open your eyes. It's time to believe.