Huskies Add Veteran LB
UConn football added a piece to an area that’s desperate for depth, in Indiana LB Jayden McDonald. McDonald, a 6’0” 227 lb grad transfer, has one year of eligibility remaining, but he steps in to help at a position that lost the program’s 3rd leading tackler in Jackson Mitchell, and two solid LBs the year prior in Brandon Bouyer-Randle, and Ian Swenson. UConn returns Tui-Faumunia-Brown, as well as adding USC/Tulsa transfer Julien Simon.
McDonald originally committed to Iowa out of HS, spending one year in Iowa City. He chose the Hawkeyes over offers from Kansas State, Ole Miss, Purdue, Rutgers, Cincinnati, plus some G5 offers as a 3 star recruit. After spending one year as a redshirt, McDonald transferred to Troy, and had to sit out 2019 due to transfer rules (remember those?!). In 2020, he was 2nd on the team in tackles with 67, and was rated the 7th best LB in QB pressure by PFF.
In 2021, he had 36 tackles through 8 games, before a season-ending injury. He also had his one career INT that year. After returning from injury in 2022, he would play just three games before another season-ending injury. 2023 was his big year, leading the Trojans in tackles with 75, to go along with 9.5 TFLs, and a sack. He entered the portal and committed to Indiana, before re-entering the portal last week. He should be in the mix for playing time right away in Storrs.