15Derek McDonald
LB · GR/TR
GRTRANSFER
Syracuse → North Carolina
Syracuse → North CarolinaCurrent depth chart
MLB1StarterGR
Depth relationships
Bio
Derek McDonald is a linebacker from Atlanta who spent five years in Syracuse's rotation before transferring to North Carolina. At Marist School, he was named 4A Player of the Year and led his team to a 13-0 record and the 2020 state championship with 70 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, and five sacks in his senior season. During his time with the Orange, McDonald compiled 168 career tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 7.0 tackles for loss across 41 appearances. In 2025, he appeared in four games before missing the remainder of the season due to injury, recording six total tackles. McDonald enters his sixth season in 2026 as a graduate transfer. From Marist School · Atlanta, GA.
Derek McDonald appeared in 4 of 12 games in 2025.
Player information
ClassGraduateHeight6'4"Weight240 lbHometownAtlanta, GAHigh schoolMarist SchoolRecruiting3 · No. 1439 national · 2021 classConferenceACCPrevious schoolSyracuseTransfer year2026
Production · 2026 · 1 GP
Defense
11
TACKLES
0
TFL
0
SACKS
Coverage & havoc
0
INT
0
PBU
0
QB HUR
Career path
MARIST SCHOOLAtlanta, GA
SYRACUSE2021 – 2025
NORTH CAROLINA2026 — present
Transferred in