At some point, opposing quarterbacks must stop picking on Jelani McDonald.

According to Pro Football Focus, McDonald has been targeted 15 times in coverage through four games. That’s No. 1 among SEC safeties, and tied for 20th among FBS safeties, but McDonald has made teams pay for throwing in his direction.

McDonald has allowed eight receptions for 76 yards (9.5 yards per reception). With two interceptions (PFF also has him down for one dropped interception), McDonald has held opposing quarterbacks to a paltry 28.1 NFL passer rating when targeting him.

A dynamic athlete Texas recruited out of Waco Connally in the 2023 cycle, McDonald has thankfully found a position where he’s flourishing, quickly growing into one of the most impactful defensive backs in the SEC.

“When we recruited him out of high school, we didn't really know what [position] we were going to play him,” Steve Sarkisian said after McDonald intercepted a pass and recorded a tackle for loss in last Saturday’s 55-0 win over Sam Houston. McDonald is targeted once every 7.2 coverage snaps, which ranks 14th among SEC safeties who’ve logged at least 20 coverage snaps, according to PFF.

McDonald, whose 115 coverage snaps are the fifth-most by an SEC safety, has cushioned the blow the safety room absorbed when Andrew Mukuba’s eligibility expired at the end of the 2024 season.

“He was playing high school quarterback and, initially, we thought he was going to be a linebacker. When he got here, we moved him to corner, then he found his way back at safety, so his development has been different,” Sarkisian said regarding McDonald’s development. “He's always been very physically gifted, but learning to play the game from that perspective is a little bit different when you've been an offensive type of player. But, to his credit, he's worked on his craft.”

The Longhorns will face tougher challenges when the conference schedule begins next Saturday, when No. 10 Texas hits the road to face Florida (2:30 p.m., ABC). Still, with Michael Taaffe owning PFF's eighth-best coverage grade among SEC safeties (80.2), a top-tier safety tandem will go a long way toward the Longhorns developing into a championship-caliber pass defense, especially if McDonald continues his current upward trajectory.

"Jelani has his physical ability, but now he's really tapping into the mental side of the game," Sarkisian said. "He's communicating at a high level, but his play-making ability is obviously elite. He's a great tackler — probably one of our best tacklers on our team. His ball skills are really good. I just think his confidence and who he's become as a leader, I think, has probably been the most impressive thing. This guy's a real leader on our team — he was a captain tonight — so I'm just really proud of all that he's done to get to this point in his career."

View full news story

I know we know it, but it seems inevitable that the general public will soon talk about McDonald as one of the top safeties in the SEC.

McDonald's interception against Sam Houston, if you want another look:

 

he has 1 round potential imo

2 minutes ago, awashbump said:

he has 1 round potential imo

Agree 

11 minutes ago, awashbump said:

he has 1 round potential imo

I think so as well, barring injury, of course...but it would be nice to have him another year...unless he's a soph and we have him one more year anyways, of course

54 minutes ago, Jeff Howe said:

McDonald is averaging 7.2 targets per snap

"game" instead of "snap"? 

39 minutes ago, taxsaver said:

I think so as well, barring injury, of course...but it would be nice to have him another year...unless he's a soph and we have him one more year anyways, of course

he's a junior. same class as Arch. and if he keeps playing like he has then he's going to the NFL no doubt in my mind, as he should

Long, tough, athletic, smart...1st rounder. 

How I miss being able to get off the ground like that. Getting old sucks🤣

41 minutes ago, Dread-headed Texan said:

How I miss being able to get off the ground like that. Getting old sucks🤣

Father Time is undefeated

4 minutes ago, Texazz said:

Father Time is undefeated

The crazy thing is I was dunking at 5'9" in the 8th grade at 45 I'm lucky to just be able to slap the backboard. For some reason or another your head tells you that you can still do it, your body says have the ambulance on standby🤣

2 hours ago, ArizonaLonghorn said:

"game" instead of "snap"? 

It’s actually 7.2 coverage snaps per target. I fixed it.

2 hours ago, Dread-headed Texan said:

How I miss being able to get off the ground like that. Getting old sucks🤣

Some of us can’t “miss” something we could never dream of doing lol. 

I was sold on him after the pick against Kentucky last season. I think he will end up being our best defensive player this season. 

On 9/26/2025 at 1:46 PM, Jeff Howe said:

McDonald's interception against Sam Houston, if you want another look:

 

I wish the NFL had a stat like baseball of catch probability. His tracking on that ball was elite. Teams may try to avoid throwing at him but like Sean Taylor back in the day the range, length, closing speed and athleticism enables him to get to balls that he shouldn't get to, that other people simply can't get to. 

Jeff, coaches played  McDonald at corner at All Star  Under Armor Game, he was their best D B

What's crazy is Taaffe and McDonald have been playing at a high level and you still have a starting calibre S on the bench in Williams lol. 

15 hours ago, AusMOJO said:

What's crazy is Taaffe and McDonald have been playing at a high level and you still have a starting calibre S on the bench in Williams lol. 

Filsaime had really come on before his injury, too.

16 hours ago, Karl Simon said:

Jeff, coaches played  McDonald at corner at All Star  Under Armor Game, he was their best D B

Yep. And he was a late addition to the roster for the All-American Bowl. He had a great week in San Antonio.

6 hours ago, Jeff Howe said:

Filsaime had really come on before his injury, too.

Ah yes, I forgot about him, too.