1/17/23
Jelani McDonald rises into top 50 of final On300 rankings
A three-sport star (basketball, track), McDonald has one of the more unique skill sets among defenders in the 2023 cycle. At the All-American Bowl, we saw the Texas signee effectively cover some of the top receivers in the cycle, despite having the frame of a potential linebacker.
1/07/23
Jelani McDonald a top performer at All-American Bowl week
A high school quarterback with the frame to grow into a linebacker, Jelani McDonald is a true ‘athlete’ prospect. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder lined up as an outside cornerback for the West team over the course of the week and was arguably the top defensive back on the team. McDonald was the On3 MVP for the West on day two, after showing impressive athleticism and coverage skills – particularly for a prospect of his size. A three-sport standout who also stars in basketball and track, McDonald committed to Texas during the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game. He projects as a hybrid linebacker/safety in Austin. Given the considerable physical skills and coordination he showed at the All-American Bowl, McDonald appears to be one of the more intriguing, high upside defenders in the cycle.
8/03/22
Jelani McDonald is an On3 Outlier
Jelani McDonald has one of the most impressive athletic profiles in the 2023 cycle. He’s a state champion long-jumper with a 48-2 foot leap along with a personal best of 6-6 in the high jump. McDonald also stars on the basketball court, where he was district MVP as a junior. That’s all in addition to his exploits in football, where he stars as a quarterback for Waco (Texas) Connally. The athleticism coincides with a unique frame. McDonald is over 6-foot-2, 190 pounds with a 6-foot-6 wing-span. He’ll need to hone in on a position at the next level and could end up as a safety or linebacker depending on how his frame fills out. Regardless, we view McDonald as a high upside type given his athleticism and size.