Will McDonald IV DE/EDGE Iowa State | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Will McDonald IV DE/EDGE Iowa State
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: VERSATILE DL | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/10/2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.70 seconds (79%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 25.5 DOB: 06/04/1999 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| SUB-POSITION: VERSATILE DL | |
| Last Updated: 03/10/2023 | |
| Draft Year: 2023 | |
| 40 time: 4.70 seconds (79%*) | |
| Age: 25.5 DOB: 06/04/1999 | |
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 87.0 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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81% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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69% |
| Pass Rush: |
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94% |
| Run Defense: |
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72% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
2nd - Early
Overall Rank:
#37
Position rank:
#6
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| College Games: 51 College Snaps: 1506 | ||
ESPN RATING: 77/100
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 86/100
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Drafted: ROUND: 1 - Pick Number: 15 (NYJ)
Draft Profile: Bio
Will McDonald IV from North High School was rated a 3-star recruit by ESPN and handed a 3-star grade by 247 Sports. After high school, McDonald IV joined Iowa State.In 2018 as a freshman McDonald IV saw action in just 3 games and played a total of 13 snaps for the Cyclones. He recorded no tackles, no assists, while adding one stop.
As a sophomore for the Cyclones in 2019 McDonald IV played in 11 games and took part in 129 snaps for the Cyclones. He recorded just 2 tackles, no assists, while adding 6 stops. As a pass rusher, he chalked up 21 total pressures, and 12 QB hurries, 3 QB hits, and a solid 6 sacks during the year.
In 2020 as a junior McDonald IV played in 12 games and contributed on 343 snaps. He recorded 10 tackles, 6 assists while making 17 stops. As a pass rusher, he produced 35 total pressures, which included 20 QB hurries, 6 QB hits, and an excellent 9 sacks on the year.
In 2021 as a senior McDonald IV logged playing time in 13 games and logged a total of 502 snaps for the Cyclones. He also added 17 tackles, 2 assists, and 25 stops. As a pass rusher, he tallied 45 total pressures, which included 24 QB hurries, 8 QB hits, and an outstanding 13 sacks on the season.
In 2022 as a fifth year senior McDonald IV logged playing time in 12 games and logged a total of 519 snaps for the Cyclones. He also added 27 tackles, 5 assists, and 24 stops. As a pass rusher, he tallied 25 total pressures, which included 16 QB hurries, 3 QB hits, and a solid 6 sacks on the season.
Honors & awards
- Reese's Senior Bowl Participant (2022)
- First Team All-Big 12 – Coaches (2020, 2021, 2022)
- Second Team All-Big 12 - Phil Steele, AP (2022)
- First Team All-American – FWAA, Phil Steele (2021)
- Second Team All-American – CBS (2021)
- Third Team All-American – AP (2021)
- Big 12 Co-Defensive Lineman of the Year (2021)
- Ted Hendricks Award Semifinalist (2020, 2021)
- Second Team Academic All-Big 12 (2019, 2020)
- Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year (2018)
- Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team (2018)
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Crazy athletic skills -- Made Bruce Feldman's 'Freaks List' at number 5. He wrote: “He’s an elite athlete who can do backflips standing still and has videos jumping over cars. All of that along with sacking the QB,” Cyclones coach Matt Campbell said of the 6-3, 236-pound edge rusher. Campbell expects McDonald will vertical-jump 42 or 43 inches when he goes to the combine and should broad jump around 11 feet."
- McDonald has a high motor and does a solid job setting the edge against the run.
- A classic speed edge rusher with a lethal spin move and the agility to close quickly
- Huely productive college player who over three years of college starts has made 122 tackles, 39.5 tackles for loss, 33 sacks, seven deflections, and nine forced fumbles
- Classed as an edge DE player, but has the skills to quite easily play as a traditional OLB
- He’s very instinctive when it comes to countering and solid with overall hand usage.
- He’s very good with his hands, a technician with the violence, quickness, and long arms to ward off blockers. He has a great motor and enough creativity to make plays late in the down as a pass rusher.
- Challenges inside with quickness and strong hands. Run-and-chase defender who can leave a mark.
- He’s quick to react and locate the ball, and McDonald shows the speed to succeed in backside pursuit. He plays with excellent balance and a strong, flexible core, rarely ending up on the ground.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- McDonald is so eager to get upfield that he far too often abandons responsibilities against the run.
- Limited lower body strength, limits his ability to power through on bull rushes. Can be overwhelmed by bigger more powerful tackles
- Has shown the instincts to get a number of strip-sacks
- Didn't show all the elite athletic skills expected of him at the combine - in particular, his 36 vertical was a disappointment - although his broad jump came in as billed
- Can be easily taken out of the game with double teams in the run game
- Sometimes late to react to the snap - leaving the blocker with the first step
- Older prospect - will be 24 during the 2023 season
- Often shows poor instincts when locating the ball against the run
Scouting Report: Summary
Will McDonald IV a sold NFL prospect who has consistently performed at the highest level while at Iowa. He possesses a wide array of pass-rushing skills as well as the prototypical speed and athletic skills required for the position. He however is undersized at just 239 lbs and can struggle in the run game against power blockers. He can similarly be taken out of the game by bigger tackles if his first-speed move fails.Overall we see Mcdonald as a year one pass-rush role player as a pass-rushing outside linebacker and an eventual three-down player by year two in the pros. Currently, we look at him as offering talents worthy of a second-round selection in the 2023 NFL draft.
Will McDonald IV percentiles vs other Defensive Ends (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
Will McDonald IV Video Review
How other scouting services rate Will McDonald IV (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
35.3
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
13.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.