Kayden McDonald Wants to Take Step Forward in Leadership, Make More Big Plays in 2025.
For the majority of the 2024 season, Kayden McDonald would be the first defensive tackle off the bench Larry Johnson and Ohio State would turn to.
The Georgia product put together a productive sophomore season, recording 19 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a quarterback hit and a pass breakup despite seeing limited snaps across 16 games.
“I would say I’ve learned the scheme better, learned how to do my job better and just worked hard every day,” McDonald told Eleven Warriors in January of his progress this season. “I learned to just be patient with it. Take it day by day and learn from guys (like Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton) by using my ears instead of my mouth. It’s getting better each and every day.”
Outside of winning a national title, McDonald’s favorite memory of his 2024 campaign was helping lift his team to a much-needed win over Penn State in November. With Tyleik Williams injured on Penn State’s final drive of the contest, McDonald was instrumental in keeping the Nittany Lions out of the end zone. Especially on third down, where McDonald beat the center at the line of scrimmage and slowed down running back Kaytron Allen long enough for his teammates to bring him down.
“I’d say probably the Penn State game, getting that big goal line stop for my team,” McDonald said reflecting on the memory. “That was probably my favorite moment. I just wanted to win that game and be ready when my number was called. No matter how many plays you get, it’s up to you when they call your name, so that’s how I go about it.”
That moment also stood out to his head coach.
K-Mac really stepped up for us, and we’re hoping that he can continue to give us more and more snaps,” Ryan Day said about McDonald a few days after the Penn State game. “But great to see him with the game on the line. I think it was the third down play where he really got a lot of movement on the center, and that made a huge difference on that play especially, but he was in there for all those plays two weeks in a row.”
Entering his third season at Ohio State, McDonald has eyes on being a full-time starter at defensive tackle, not just a rotational player. He and teammate Eddrick Houston are probably in the driver’s seat entering the spring for the two starting spots, assuming the Buckeyes keep a four-lineman defensive front.
McDonald is focusing on improving himself on and off the field this offseason.
“I just want to be a leader and step up for that. I want to be the leader for the D-line,” McDonald said. “I want to also be the leader of the defense. I feel like I can do that and get better in the offseason every day. The goal for next year will be to go to the NFL draft, but God got me. I’ll lean on my brothers every day to make sure I’m safe.”
McDonald said specifically he wants to bolster his pass-rush ability and make more impact plays in 2025. He also looks forward to playing alongside Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and Caden Curry, as he believes they’ve been underrated and can’t wait to see them take on a bigger role next season.
If things go according to plan, McDonald, Curry, Jackson, Houston and others could make up the next staunch Ohio State defensive front.
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