Derek McDonald

LB · #15 · North Carolina · GR · 6'4" · 240 · Atlanta, GA

Projected MLB starter

54 2026 tackles

0 · 1 2026 sacks · TFL

0 2026 INT + PD

48 Career games (34 starts)

Career

Season	Team	GP	GS	Tackles	Sacks	TFL	INT	PD	FF
2026	North Carolina	6	6	54	0	1	0	0	0
2025	Syracuse	5	1	6	0	0	0	0	0
2024	Syracuse	13	7	54	0	1	0	0	1
2023	Syracuse	13	12	63	2.5	2	0	0	0
2022	Syracuse	9	8	18	1	0	1	1	1
2021	Syracuse	2	0

Tackles per game 9.0 99

Havoc plays 1 38

INT + pass breakups 0 0

Forced fumbles 0 0

Explosive rate allowed 7.4% 93

Line yards per carry allowed 2.8 25

Sack rate 4.9% 30

Weeks with a recorded defensive stat.

2021 class · 247 composite

Three-star high school recruit

The 2021 board

#1426 Aaron Dumas RB · El Paso Americas UNM

#1426

Walker Eget QB · West Ranch SJSU

#1439

Derek McDonald TE · Marist School SYR

#1459 Rakim Cooper DL · St. Thomas More CCAR

#1459 Darius Hale RB · Pearland

TEs in the class

#73 Joey Bearns III St. Frances Academy MD

#73 Matt Lauter Torrey Pines BSU

#75

Derek McDonald Marist School SYR

#77

#77 Mason Brotherton Mena KU

2026 · 38th pctile of LBs

Recruit · 45th pctile of class