Player Career
Career story, signature performances, transfer context, and season arc are grouped for biography-style searches.
Player Story
Derek McDonald built his college career from 2022 through 2025 as a linebacker from Atlanta, GA wearing No. 15, spending time with Syracuse. The clearest part of Derek McDonald's career was his defensive production: 158 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and 1 interception across 37 career games in the available record. That gives Derek McDonald's career enough real context without stretching the story beyond the available production.
Track team changes, role shifts, and season-to-season movement.
Syracuse
2022-2025
Opening stop
Season Value Progression
| Season | Team | Primary | Efficiency | Usage | Delta |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Regular Season | Syracuse | 9 | 29 | 6.4 | — |
| 2023 Postseason | Syracuse | 11.5 | 28.4 | 8.1 | 2.5 |
| 2023 Regular Season | Syracuse | 11.5 | 28.4 | 8.1 | 0 |
| 2024 Postseason | Syracuse | 2.5 | 19.5 | 5.2 | -9 |
| 2024 Regular Season | Syracuse | 2.5 | 19.5 | 5.2 | 0 |
| 2025 Regular Season | Syracuse | 0 | 8.3 | 1.6 | -2.5 |
Transfer Portal History
| Season | Path | Movement | Value | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Syracuse to North Carolina | P4 to P4 | 78.4 | Jan 10, 2026 |
#1 Featured game
@ NC State
Week 7 · W 24-17 · Conference game
Win with 1 impact plays across the defensive snap sheet.
1
Havoc Plays
79.7 takeover
1 disruption/tackle impact with 79.7 takeover score.
#2
vs Georgia Tech
Week 2 · W 31-28 · Conference game
1
Havoc Plays
79.7 takeover
Win with 1 impact plays across the defensive snap sheet.
1 disruption/tackle impact with 79.7 takeover score.
#3
vs Colgate
Week 1 · W 65-0
2
Havoc Plays
79.5 takeover
Win with 2 impact plays across the defensive snap sheet.
2 disruption/tackle impact with 79.5 takeover score.
#4
vs Florida State
Week 11 · L 3-38 · Conference game
3
Havoc Plays
73.1 takeover
Loss with 3 impact plays across the defensive snap sheet.
3 disruption/tackle impact with 73.1 takeover score.
#5
vs NC State
Week 7 · W 24-9 · Conference game
2
Havoc Plays
71.1 takeover
Win with 2 impact plays across the defensive snap sheet.
2 disruption/tackle impact with 71.1 takeover score.
#1 Season by Season Value
2023 Postseason · Syracuse
11.5 primary output · 28.4 efficiency · 8.1 usage
65.4
#2
2023 Regular Season · Syracuse
65.4
11.5 primary · 28.4 efficiency · 8.1 usage
#3
2022 Regular Season · Syracuse
53.3
9 primary · 29 efficiency · 6.4 usage
8
Impact games
4
Splash games
1
10+ tackle games
Next best actions
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