Kayden McDonald has received a lot of hype as one of the Top 40 ranked players in Georgia, and the Top 50 defensive line prospects in the country according to 247Sports. With the recent trend of defensive linemen coming out of the high school ranks becoming more athletic, agile, and versatile from a pass-rushing perspective, Kayden McDonald fits the narrative of a big man who can flat-out move.
During his 2020 sophomore and 2021 junior seasons at North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, Georgia, McDonald recorded mind-boggling numbers on the defensive line, accumulating 151 total tackles, 91 tackles for loss, and 32 sacks, and was named Touchdown Club of Gwinett’s Defensive Player of the Year at the end of his 2021 season. McDonald looks to add to his stats by the end of his 2022 season.
As a prospect, Kayden McDonald has the ideal frame at 6-3, 310lbs, with room to add mass down the line. His current position projection is in the interior, probably at the 1-tech or 3-tech position, depending on the defensive scheme he’s placed in. What separates him from the pack is his impressive first step, play strength, and explosiveness off the line of scrimmage, displaying strong hands and quick feet at the point of attack. McDonald is both a run stuffer and proficient pass rusher due to his speed-to-power ability, and will simply overmatch most interior linemen as the game wears on.
2023 Recruiting Profile: Kayden McDonald
Rating
| Stars | Overall | State | Position | |
| 247 | 4 | 242nd | 24th | 37th |
| Rivals | 4 | 188th | 15th | 7th |
| ESPN | 4 | 172nd | 33rd | 20th |
| On3 Recruiting | 4 | 290th | 28th | 39th |
| 247 Composite | 4 | 292nd | 30th | 41st |
Vitals
| Hometown | Suwanee, Georgia |
| Projected Position | Defensive line |
| Height | 6-3 |
| Weight | 310lbs |
| Class | 2023 |
Offers
- Florida
- Michigan State
- Georgia
- Michigan
- Ohio State
- Oklahoma
- Arkansas
- Auburn
- Clemson
- LSU
- Tennessee
- Texas A&M
- USC
- Wisconsin
Film
#AGTG I’m thankful for the opportunities and relationships I’ve been blessed with through this process. These are schools I will be focusing on. 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/5D61fB8lm9
— Kayden (@KMac_DT) June 16, 2022
[mm-video type=playlist id=01fvdd4pnb49trk727 player_id=none image=https://aggieswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]