Caden McDonald Season 2022

Final Bio

HONORS
* Three-time First-Team All-Mountain West (2020-21)
* 2023 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society
* 2023 Mountain West Scholar-Athlete
* Five-time Mountain West Fall All-Academic Team (2018-22)
* Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week
- Oct. 16, 2020 for game vs. UNLV

A skilled linebacker who has improved greatly since arriving to SDSU in 2017 ... Is seemingly always around the ball ... An excellent pash rusher ... Was a regular in the starting lineup each of the past three years, coming on in 2020 en route to being named back-to-back first-team all-Mountain West ... Elected to come back for a sixth season because of the COVID shortened 2020 ... Started 43 straight games to close his career, the longest streak on the team ... Also played in 61 consecutive games, the longest streak in program history.

^SENIOR SEASON (2022)
Was named a first-team all-Mountain West selection for the third consecutive season by the league’s head coaches and media ... Joined fellow Aztec Kirk Morrison (2002-04) as the only linebackers to make three all-MW first teams in league history ... Also was named a first-team all-Mountain West selection by Phil Steele Magazine ... Racked up numerous preseason awards, including being named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List (most outstanding defensive player) for a second consecutive season and also landing on the Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List (outstanding lineman of the year) ... Also was chosen as a preseason first-team all-Mountain West selection by the league’s media, along with Phil Steele Magazine, Athlon Sports and Lindy’s Sports ... Also was named “SDSU’s No. 1 player” by Athlon Sports and a “SDSU player to watch” by Lindy’s Sports ... Had 43 tackles (18 solo) on the season in 13 starts, including two sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss, an interception, two pass breakups and nine quarterback hurries ... Recorded six tackles in a start in the opener against Arizona on Sept. 3, including 0.5 tackles for loss ... Played 59 snaps in the game ... Had a big game against Idaho State on Sept. 10, tying a career high with eight tackles (two solo), including 2.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup and two quarterback hurries ... Played in 60 snaps overall ... Registered three solo tackles and a quarterback hurry in a start and 52 of the team’s 70 defensive snaps ... Came up with four solo tackles, including a tackle for loss, a pass breakup and an interception on Toledo’s final drive to seal the victory ... It was his second career interception and first since Oct. 19, 2019 at San José State ... Also added a quarterback hurry ... Had four tackles (one solo) at Boise State on Sept. 30, playing 60 of the team’s 67 defensive snaps ... Registered five tackles (two solo) and a quarterback hurry in 51 (of 58) defensive snaps against Hawai’i in a start on Oct. 8 ... Had two tackles (one solo), including 0.5 tackles for loss, and a quarterback hurry in a start and 44 snaps at Nevada on Oct. 22 ...  Came up with four tackles, including one sack and 1.5 tackles for loss, and two quarterback hurries in a start and 52 defensive snaps at Fresno State on Oct. 29 ... Had two tackles with one being a solo 7-yard sack along with a quarterback hurry in a start and 42 snaps against UNLV on Nov. 5 ... Made a solo tackle in a start and 39 defensive snaps vs. San José State on Nov. 12 ... Did not record a stat in 33 defensive snaps in a start at New Mexico on Nov. 18 ... Had two assisted tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss, in a start and 65 snaps vs. Air Force on Nov. 26 ... Made two tackles in a start with a tackle for loss and a pass breakup in 48 snaps in a start vs. Middle Tennessee in the Hawai’i Bowl on Dec. 24.

SENIOR SEASON (2021)
Was named a first-team all-Mountain West selection by the league’s coaches and media ... Joined Kirk Morrison (2002-04), Miles Burris (2010-11), Calvin Munson (2015-16) and Kyahva Tezino (2018-19) as the only Aztec linebackers to make multiple all-MW first teams in league history ... Was chosen a team captain by his teammates ... Was named to both the Bronko Nagurski Award Watch List (most outstanding defensive player) and the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List (college defensive player of the year) ... Also is on the Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List ... Was chosen as a preseason first-team all-Mountain West pick by the league’s media (with the most votes by a linebacker) and Athlon Sports, a second-team selection by Phil Steele Magazine and Lindy’s Sports, and a fourth-team edge defender by Pro Football Focus ... College Football News labeled him as “SDSU’s best defensive player” ... Started all 14 games ... Has registered 49 tackles (21 solo), including three sacks for 22 yards and 6.5 tackles for loss of 28 yards, seven quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and a blocked PAT ... Tied for 21st in FBS in blocked kicks (1, T-2nd in MW) ... Started for the 18th straight game in the opener against New Mexico State on Sept. 4, recording four tackles, including a 5-yard sack, and a quarterback hurry ... Played in 63 of the 85 snaps ... Registered three solo tackles, including two tackles for loss (six yards) and a 4-yard sack, in  45 snaps in a start at Arizona on Sept. 11 ... Had four assisted tackles and a quarterback hurry in 79 snaps in a start against Utah on Sept. 18 ... Came up with three tackles (one solo) and a tackle for loss in 41 snaps in a start vs. Towson on Sept. 25 ... Had two tackles (one solo), including a 13-yard sack (and tackle for loss), in 44 snaps in a start with New Mexico on Oct. 9 ... Had five tackles (all assisted) in another start at San José State on Oct. 15, where he played 76 of the team’s 81 defensive snaps ... Had two tackles (one solo) in  a start at Air Force on Oct. 23, playing 40 of the team’s 65 snaps on defense ... Had two solo tackles and a quarterback hurry in 66 snaps against Fresno State on Oct. 30 ... Registered two solo tackles and a pass breakup in 45 snaps at Hawai’i on Nov. 6 ... Had five tackles (two solo) with 0.5 tackles for loss in a start and 49 snaps vs. Nevada on Nov. 13 ... Came up with a season-high six tackles (one solo), including a 2-yard tackle for loss, in a start at UNLV on Nov. 19 in 47 snaps ... Had six tackles and a pass breakup in a start and 56 defensive snaps against Boise State on Nov. 26 ... The six tackles were tied with six others for the most on the team ... Started again against Utah State in the Mountain West Championship game on Dec. 4, where he had three solo tackles and blocked a PAT ... Played 58 snaps overall ... Had two solo tackles and a quarterback hurry in 45 starts and another start against No. 24/25 UTSA in the Tropical Smoothie Frisco Bowl on Dec. 21.

JUNIOR SEASON (2020)
Garnered first-team all-Mountain West honors by the league’s media and coaches ... Was named a preseason all-Mountain West third team selection by Phil Steele Magazine ... Had 34 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss for 48 yards, 4.5 sacks for 33 yards, 10 quarterback hurries, three pass breakups and a forced fumble, starting all eight of the team’s games ... Ranked third in the Mountain West in tackles for loss (10.0), a tie for fourth in tackle for loss yards (48), a tie for seventh in pass breakups (3), eighth in sack yards (33), a tie for eighth in sacks (4.5) and ninth in tackles for loss per game (1.25) ... Had a breakout game against UNLV on Oct. 24 en route to being named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week for the first time of his career ... Posted career highs of eight tackles, three tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks after entering the game with 36 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in 26 career games ... His 2.5 sacks matched the most by a SDSU player since Jay Henderson’s three sacks vs. Northern Illinois on Sept. 30, 2017 ... Also added three quarterback hurries and was named the team’s defensive player of the week ... Had three tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry in a start at Utah State on Oct. 31 ... The QBH led to a Seyddrick Lakalaka interception ... Had three tackles (one solo) and a pair of quarterback hurries against San José State on Nov. 6 ... Had another good game vs. Hawai’i on Nov. 14 with seven tackles (three solo), three tackles for loss for 18 yards, two sacks for 17 yards and a forced fumble ... The forced fumble was the first of his career, while the three tackles for loss tied a career high ... Had three tackles (one solo) and a pass breakup at Nevada on Nov. 21 ... Came up with five tackles (three solo) and a tackle for loss at Colorado on Nov. 28 ... Had a solid outing in a start vs. Colorado State on Dec. 5, making four tackles (three solo) with 2.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups and three quarterback hurries ... Came up with a single tackle in a start at No. 14/16 Brigham Young on Dec. 12.

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2019)
Played in 13 games, making 10 starts ... Has 34 tackles (15 solo) with 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, an interception, two pass breakups, a fumble recovery, seven quarterback hurries and a touchdown on special teams ... Tied for third in FBS in punt return touchdowns (1, off a blocked punt) ... Started the opener with Weber State for the first time of his career, making two tackles (one solo) in 35 snaps and adding a quarterback hurry ...?Had a then career-high four tackles (three solo), including 0.5 tackles for loss, and a quarterback hurry in 52 snaps off the bench at UCLA after entering the game with four career stops in 14 games ... Also recovered a fumble after a Kyahva Tezino sack, his first of the career ... The turnover led to a Ryan Agnew 34-yard touchdown pass to Kobe Smith ... Registered one assisted tackle in 17 snaps off the bench at New Mexico State ... Had an assisted tackle, which went down as 0.5 TFL, and a quarterback hurry vs. Utah State in 16 snaps ... Started for the second time of his career at Colorado State, making a then career-high-tying four tackles, including a then career-high 1.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks, in 41 snaps ... The 1/2 sack was the first of his career ... Came up with four tackles in a start across 48 snaps against Wyoming ... Started again at San José State, playing all 54 snaps, and making two tackles with an interception ... The interception, which was returned 11 yards, was the first of his career and set up SDSU for victory formation late in the fourth quarter ... Had an assisted tackle and a pass breakup in a fourth straight start at UNLV in 69 defensive snaps, while recovering a blocked punt by Trenton Thompson for a touchdown ... It was SDSU’s first block punt return for a touchdown since Thompson returned Kaelin Himphill’s block vs. Air Force on Oct. 12, 2018 ... The touchdown gave SDSU a 14-0 lead ... Earned the start once again vs. Nevada, making a career-high five tackles (three solo), including a tackle for loss, while playing all 56 snaps ... Had a solo tackle in a start and 30 snaps vs. Fresno State ... Had four solo tackles, including a career highs of 2.0 sacks and 2.0 tackles for loss for nine yards in a start and 44 snaps at Hawai’i ... Came up with an assisted tackle and two quarterback hurries in a start over 53 snaps vs. Brigham Young ... Had four tackles (two solo) with a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry in a start over 51 snaps vs. Central Michigan in the New Mexico?Bowl.

FRESHMAN SEASON (2018)
Played in the team’s 13 games of the season, mainly on special teams ... Had two tackles (one solo) ... Logged 26 defensive snaps on the season ... Made his collegiate debut in the opener at No. 13/13 Stanford, but did not record a stat ... Played three snaps and on special teams ... Also played statless special teams time vs. Sacramento State ... Had his first career tackle against No. 23/25 Arizona State, making the stop on defense, where he played five snaps ... Had seven statless snaps vs. Eastern Michigan ... Did not record a stat in special teams action at rv/No. 24 Boise State, vs. Air Force and against San José State ... Played one defensive snap at Nevada ... Also played on special teams at New Mexico, against UNLV, at Fresno State and against Hawai’i ... Had an assisted tackle in 10 defensive snaps against Ohio in the DXL Frisco Bowl.

REDSHIRT SEASON (2017)
Utilized his redshirt season. 

HIGH SCHOOL
Three-year letter winner at Northwest High School in Justin, Texas ... Recorded a school-record 290 tackles for his career along with three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and a blocked punt, according to MaxPreps ... Totaled a school-record 290 tackles over his career ... Was a first-team all-state selection ... Was a two-time first-team all-district pick ... Was an academic all-state honoree ... Named a Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) defensive player-of-the-year nominee ... Was the team's defensive player of the year three times ... A three-star recruit by ESPN, 247sports and Scout, and a two-star recruit by Rivals ... Received a grade of 80 by 247sports and 72 from ESPN ... Scout had him as the 10th-best linebacker recruit in the talent-rich state of Texas 2017 recruiting class ... Also was a four-year letter winner for the track & field team, qualifying for the state meet, as well as the district, area and regional championships. 

PERSONAL
Caden Blaine McDonald was born Aug. 13, 1998, in Phoenix, Ariz. ... Son of Mike and Jill McDonald ... Picked SDSU over numerous other offers, including Army West Point, Air Force, North Texas, UTSA, Bowling Green, Fresno State, Northwestern State, Lamar, Brown, Cornell and Penn ... A kinesiology major with an emphasis as a fitness specialist ... Older brother, Colton, played at North Texas, while younger brother, Cooper, transferred to SDSU from Washington for the spring 2022 season.

CAREER BESTS
Tackles: 8 vs. Idaho State (9/10/22), vs. UNLV (10/24/20)
Tackles For Loss: 3.0 vs. Hawai’i (11/14/20), vs. UNLV (10/24/20)
Sacks: 2.5 vs. UNLV (10/24/20)
Interceptions: 1 vs. Toledo (9/24/22), at San José State (10/19/19)
Pass Breakups: 2 vs. Colorado State (12/5/20)
Blocked Kicks: 1 vs. Utah State (12/4/21)
Forced Fumbles: 1 vs. Hawai’i (11/14/20)
Fumble Recoveries: 1 at UCLA (9/7/19)
Touchdowns: 1 at UNLV (10/26/19)