Jayden McDonald

Photo by: Clarus Multimedia Group

Position:
Linebacker
Class:
Redshirt Senior
Height:
6-0
Weight:
235
Hometown:
Suwanee, GA
High School:
North Gwinnett HS
Prev School:
Troy

Prior to UConn: Transfers to UConn and will have one year of eligibility remaining…Comes to UConn after playing at Troy from 2020-23… Spent the spring of 2023 at Indiana before re-entering the transfer portal…Played in 35 games over four seasons at Troy, finishing his career with 191 total tackles, 22.0 for a loss including 2.5 sacks, an interception, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble…This past fall he played in 13 games and led the defense in tackles, finishing with 75 total tackles, 9.5 for a loss…Saw his junior (2022) and sophomore (2021) seasons cut short due to injuries…In his debut season with the Trojans in 2020, he finished second on the team with 67 tackles over 11 games…Rated the No. 7 linebacker in the country per Pro Football Focus in pressuring the quarterback with an 88.8 grade (min. 400 snaps) … Recorded a season-high 16 tackles with three stops behind the line against Georgia State – the 16 tackles were the 29th most by a player in the country in 2020…Committed to Iowa and redshirted the 2018 season and didn’t see before transferring to Troy…Named Georgia High School Defensive Player of the Year by Georgia High School Coaches Association at North Gwinnett HS...Earned first team all-state, all-region and all-county honors as a senior…Named first team all-state by GHSA and Atlanta Touchdown Club…Named Gwinnett Daily Post Defensive Player of the Year as a senior...Helped North Gwinnett earn its first-ever state title as a senior, winning 14 straight games after opening the season with a three-point loss.