Craig McDonald ...come on down ....

[Texan Gopher]

Was the #9 in state recruit a few years ago. Iowa State then Auburn. Now, he is back on the boat. I think we found our #2 or maybe #3 CB

 

[State of Football]

This one doesn’t excite me…

 

[WriterGoph]

This one doesn’t excite me…

He is the depth nickel behind Henderson at this point. Lots of upside for a #2

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

 

[MonikerSchmoniker45]

I believe he needs a waiver?

 

[btowngopher]

Was the #9 in state recruit a few years ago. Iowa State then Auburn. Now, he is back on the boat. I think we found our #2 or maybe #3 CB

He’s a safety, maybe can play that nickle role.

 

[btowngopher]

This one doesn’t excite me…

He got a lot of run at ISU. Apparently couldn’t at Auburn, but he did suffer an injury last year. Three years of eligibility if he gets the waiver, if he has to sit out he’d still have two. Solid addition.

 

[GopherTakes]

hopefully this excites all the people who NEED the transfers to come from power 5 schools ya weirdos

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

hopefully this excites all the people who NEED the transfers to come from power 5 schools ya weirdos

Yeah but has he played in the NFL yet?!?!?!

 

[fmlizard]

Yeah but has he played in the NFL yet?!?!?!

I hear he signed with the Gophers because he has a nice gold blazer that goes with our unis

 

[Mustang68]

Was the #9 in state recruit a few years ago. Iowa State then Auburn. Now, he is back on the boat. I think we found our #2 or maybe #3 CB

Think he's a safety. 6'2", 200.

 

[pharmacygopher]

This one doesn’t excite me…

Minnesota earns a commitment from Auburn DB transfer Craig McDonald

Minnesota hosted former in-state native and Iowa State and then Auburn defensive back transfer Craig McDonald on an unofficial visit this weekend and earned his commitment

247sports.com

...
In 2021 as a redshirt freshman, McDonald played in all 13 games for Iowa State, earning three starts on defense. He was first-team academic All-Big 12, and totaled 41 tackles, two interceptions and 1.5 tackles for loss. During that 2021 season, he totaled 410 defensive snaps, earning a 71.3 overall PFF grade on those as a redshirt freshman.

After that 2021 season, McDonald put his name into the transfer portal and ended up in the SEC with the Auburn Tigers. In his third-year of college football in 2022, McDonald saw action at safety for the Tigers against Mercer and Penn State before going down with an injury. He's expected to be at 100% when arriving on campus at Minnesota this summer. ..

Solid as a freshman. Injury last year. I don't see any reason to be down. Hopefully he can get a waiver to be eligible this season.

 

[studentgopher94]

This one doesn’t excite me…

I think you're misled then, he's a solid talent that fits very well into the Nickel role we've got going. Good competition and may earn himself some playing time. We're still likely to pick up one more DB and maybe a DL, depends what the staff thinks of the current DL...

 

[Gophers_4life]

He is the depth nickel behind Henderson at this point. Lots of upside for a #2

For whatever it's worth, Bryson and Green started and played well in the bowl game against Syracuse.

Shouldn't they be the assumed starters?

 

[Gophers_4life]

I believe he needs a waiver?

Not if he's a grad transfer, which I assume he is.

 

[MonikerSchmoniker45]

Not if he's a grad transfer, which I assume he is.

He's not.

 

[Gophers_4life]

He's not.

My bad.

Kinda surprised by that.

Has had three full academic years (2020, 2021, 2022), plus three summers, plus if he enrolled early at Iowa State an extra semester. Would definitely be possible to earn an undergrad with that many semesters. Guess he chose the lighter course load route.

 

[Gophers_4life]

Solid as a freshman. Injury last year. I don't see any reason to be down. Hopefully he can get a waiver to be eligible this season.

Selfishly, we all want a guy who can help the team to be able to do so as soon as possible.

But generally, I'm against such waivers these days. You get your one free transfer. You get another one if/when you graduate with an undergrad. Not a fan of giving another one inbetween those.

Best chance is if he can try to claim it like he needs to come home to be closer to sick family. Short of that, I would deny it.

Coaching change (if that's the case, don't know much about Auburn these days) isn't good enough, for me.

 

[MNVCGUY]

For whatever it's worth, Bryson and Green started and played well in the bowl game against Syracuse.

Shouldn't they be the assumed starters?

Both those guys are likely to see significant playing time but neither is a true CB

 

[Gophers_4life]

Both those guys are likely to see significant playing time but neither is a true CB

McDonald is a safety?

 

[MonikerSchmoniker45]

For whatever it's worth, Bryson and Green started and played well in the bowl game against Syracuse.

Shouldn't they be the assumed starters?

I don't think either plays the nickel position?

 

[Gophers_4life]

I don't think either plays the nickel position?

I thought that was exactly the position Bryson played and excelled at during the bowl game?

I can easily be wrong here, someone please correct me.


Otherwise, how would Bryson, Green, and Howden all be on the field at the same time?

 

[WriterGoph]

McDonald is a safety?

McDonald is for the nickel spot. He will be competing with Jack Henderson for PT if he gets a waiver for this year. If he doesn't get a waiver for 2023 season, Rowan will be cross-trained at Sam and Nickel. The staff obviously feels there is enough upside and talent with McDonald to take on the risk that he may only be able to practice this year.

Safeties are Nubin and Green backed up by Coleman and Gousby

 

[Roland Brooks]

Does his red shirt at Minnehaha count?

 

[Dakota2]

I thought that was exactly the position Bryson played and excelled at during the bowl game?

I can easily be wrong here, someone please correct me.


Otherwise, how would Bryson, Green, and Howden all be on the field at the same time?

Bryson was the other safety.

 

[pharmacygopher]

Selfishly, we all want a guy who can help the team to be able to do so as soon as possible.

But generally, I'm against such waivers these days. You get your one free transfer. You get another one if/when you graduate with an undergrad. Not a fan of giving another one inbetween those.

Best chance is if he can try to claim it like he needs to come home to be closer to sick family. Short of that, I would deny it.

Coaching change (if that's the case, don't know much about Auburn these days) isn't good enough, for me.

Good thing its not up to you then We'll see what the NCAA waiver roulette wheel spits out.

 

[Gophergrandpa]

If McDonald has to sit out a year for NCAA rule purposes, does his scholarship count against the 2023 limit, or does begin to it count when his playing eligibility starts, in 2024? If the later, I like this as I think McDonald is actually a safety (not a nickel) and will provide veteran presence at that position after Nubin leaves for the NFL. I think the nickel position looks to be Henderson backed up by Zolman. But, if McDonald is ineligible this year but his scholarship counts against this year's limit, not sure I understand the benefit to the Gophers as we enter a really tough season.

On the other hand, if McDonald is immediately eligible, maybe he backs up both nickel and safety. Or maybe he is the rotation as a big corner, like T-Time. Who knows?

Anyway, with Tre'Von Jones and McDonald, I think our DB group already has more talent, and considerably more game experience, than it did a month ago. Maybe that is the simple answer.

 

[WriterGoph]

If McDonald has to sit out a year for NCAA rule purposes, does his scholarship count against the 2023 limit, or does begin to it count when his playing eligibility starts, in 2024?

I'm sure it counts just like it did in the pre-portal days

 

[matt]

My bad.

Kinda surprised by that.

Has had three full academic years (2020, 2021, 2022), plus three summers, plus if he enrolled early at Iowa State an extra semester. Would definitely be possible to earn an undergrad with that many semesters. Guess he chose the lighter course load route.

How long did it take you to complete your undergrad? Did you also have D1 athlete time commitments?

 

[Gophers_4life]

How long did it take you to complete your undergrad? Did you also have D1 athlete time commitments?

8 semesters is the norm. He would’ve had at least 9 with three summer semesters (athletes usually take these nowadays)