Jelani McDonald
Texas#92 overallDraft Movement
Up 87 spots since Jun 8
Scouting Report
Jelani McDonald hits like the quarterback he used to be. A two-way quarterback and defensive back at Connally in Waco, he was the District 11-4A Offensive MVP after rushing for 852 yards and passing for 707 as a senior, and he committed to Texas at the All-American Bowl as a four-star. He appeared in 12 games as a freshman in 2023, worked into the secondary in 2024 with four starts, 33 tackles and an interception, then took over as a full-time safety in 2025 and started all 13 games. He opened that season by forcing a turnover in three straight games, recovering a fumble against San Jose State and picking off passes against UTEP and Sam Houston. He finished with 69 tackles, three interceptions, two breakups and 18 run stops. The identity is downhill. His tackling was among the best in the class, charged with only five misses on heavy volume, and he triggers fast to finish ball carriers near the line. The top-end speed gives him range to close on throws, and Texas moved him across box, slot and deep alignments. The development area is coverage detail. He is smoother in zone than mirroring in man, his three interceptions are solid rather than elite for the snap count, and his deep-third reps are fewer than his downhill snaps. He profiles as a starting strong safety whose pass coverage in space has to catch up to the physical half.
The Tape
Strengths
- Best-in-class tackling, charged with only five misses on heavy volume
- run support is excellent, a downhill force near the line
- top-end speed with the range to close on throws
- used across box, slot and deep alignments as a chess piece
- forced a takeaway in three straight games to open 2025, a fumble recovery and two interceptions
- 69 tackles and 18 run stops in his first full year as a starter
- triggers downhill fast and finishes ball carriers cleanly
- former high school quarterback whose feel and vision show up pre-snap
Weaknesses
- Smoother in zone than mirroring in man coverage
- interception total is solid rather than elite for the snaps he played
- coverage in space lags the box and run-support production
- deep-third reps are fewer than his downhill snaps, so the range is partly projection
- only one season as a full-time starter
- two pass breakups is light for a full year
- value is tied to a box-and-slot role rather than a true single-high projection
NFL Comparison
Kamren Kinchens box-and-slot chess piece; Jordan Battle downhill strong safety with sure tackling; Jaylen Reed run-first safety whose coverage is catching up
College Stats
2023 (Fr): 12 G; 2024 (So): 4 starts, 33 tackles, 1 INT; 2025 (Jr): 13 G/13 starts at safety, 69 tackles, 3 INT, 2 PBU, 18 run stops, 5 missed tackles; fumble recovery vs San Jose State, INTs vs UTEP and Sam Houston
College Market Value
Our model prices him at $1.54M on the open college market, built from production, pedigree, role and Texas's program money. No credible deal has been reported for him this season.
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Measurables
Awards & Honors
District 11-4A Offensive MVP and All-American Bowl selection in high school; four-star recruit; full-time starting safety at Texas as a junior