Jelani McDonald S Texas |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #4 ROLE: Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.45 seconds (86%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #4 | |
| ROLE: Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | |
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.45 seconds (86%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
85.1 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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73% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 78.6 | |
| Tackling: |
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79% |
| Run Defense: |
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81% |
| Coverage: |
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86% |
| Zone: |
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83% |
| Man/Press: |
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83% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
2nd - Late
Overall Rank:
#54
Position rank:
#8 (DB)
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| College Games: 36 College Snaps: 1738 | ||
ESPN RATING: 82/100
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247 RATING: 96/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.9 (97%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Kamari Ramsey - USC |
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86% |
| Bud Clark - TCU |
|
86% |
| Jevon Holland - Oregon |
|
85% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Jelani McDonald played quarterback and defensive back at Connally High School in Waco, Texas, running for 852 yards and throwing for 707 as a senior to win District 11-4A offensive MVP honors. He also won the 2022 state 4A triple jump title. 247Sports ranked him No. 97 nationally, and he committed to Texas at the 2023 All-American Bowl.McDonald missed two games with an injury as a freshman in 2023, then worked into the secondary in 2024, when he intercepted a pass, before moving into the lineup full time at safety in 2025. He started all 13 games, recovered a fumble against San Jose State, intercepted passes against UTEP and Sam Houston and finished with three interceptions. He made a career-high 14 tackles at Mississippi State and seven in the Citrus Bowl win over Michigan, though he left the Vanderbilt game with a concussion before returning to face Georgia.
McDonald returned for his senior season in 2026 as Texas' starting strong safety. He was a preseason third-team All-American by Phil Steele and on the Thorpe Award watch list. He made nine tackles against Florida and had an interception against Ole Miss, and he has more than 60 tackles in eight games for a 6-2 team. Steve Sarkisian has said he does not think McDonald gets enough notoriety for how good he is.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Rare speed for a safety, with a top-tier forty time
- Physical run defender who has 23 stops this season
- Made a career-high 14 tackles at Mississippi State in 2025
- Versatile enough to play in the box, the slot and deep
- Intercepted three passes in his first season as a full-time starter
- Has started every game since the beginning of 2025
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Missed nine tackles this season after five in all of 2025
- Coverage in space trails his run defense, with 21 catches allowed on 26 targets
- Ohio State scored a touchdown on him in September
- Concussion against Vanderbilt in 2025 forced him out of the second half
Scouting Report: Summary
McDonald is a fast, physical safety who plays downhill and arrives with force. He has rare timed speed, he does his best work close to the line of scrimmage, and he has started every game since the beginning of 2025, piling up tackles in the box, from the slot and as a deep defender. His three interceptions and fumble recovery in his first full season as a starter showed ball skills to go with the physical play. He has also been durable since an injury-shortened freshman season.His 2026 season has been productive. He has more than 60 tackles and 23 run stops in eight games, made nine tackles against Florida and intercepted a pass against Ole Miss, and Steve Sarkisian has said the defense fits him well and that he deserves more notoriety. With Texas at 6-2, he has played more than 75 snaps in three of its SEC games. His busiest game came against Mississippi State on 31 October, with 11 tackles.
However, the coverage and tackling need tightening. He has missed nine tackles this season after five in all of 2025, including four against Ole Miss, and he has allowed 21 catches on 26 targets, with Ohio State scoring on him in September. He is more comfortable as a box defender than in man coverage, and his deep-third reps are fewer than his downhill snaps. He has also been flagged twice this season, both against Ole Miss.
Overall, McDonald is a run-and-hit safety with the speed and physicality to start on early downs, and the coverage is the swing skill. He projects as a second-round safety and a starting strong safety in a scheme that keeps him near the line, with three-down upside if the coverage rounds out. His size and range also give a defense the option of using him as a dime linebacker on passing downs.
How other scouting services rate Jelani McDonald (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
63.2
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.