We predicted he would be one who could woof recently, and then spoke with Texas (Northwest) linebacker, Cooper McDonald last week and he told us he might not take a scheduled trip to Colorado this weekend.
He canceled that trip, and today he has committed to Coach Petersen and the Washington Huskies.
“When I went up there I fell in love”, McDonald said of his decision “Everything about it there…the coaches and hanging out with the players was awesome. That’s where God led me.”
Cooper, who’s from a football family (his brother Caden plays at San Diego State and his oldest brother Colton played at Northern Texas), took an official trip to Washington back in June, after being offered during the spring evaluation period.
“My brother plays for San Diego State and he really wanted me to go to San Diego State but he’s happy I went to Washington.”
One of the reasons he fell in love with Seattle and the Washington program, was “the culture”, and also he has an extremely good relationship with Pete Kwaitkowski.
“We have a great relationship”, he said Coach K, “My family really likes him too…they’re loving it — we’re real happy today in the McDonald house.”
Washington has already received a pledge from another Texan for 2020, and that’s tailback Jay’Veon Sunday, and while the original thought was that McDonald was an outside/hybrid guy, the fact is that he’s not.
Indeed, he’s an inside linebacker who can play in the box, out in space, and off the edge — very versatile. He loves football, has a very high football IQ, and a real team-centered guy who will compete hard. He’s a bigger Ben Burr-Kirven. He has an NFL frame at 6-3, 220. With added weight he will be a monster and will make his presence known in the Pac-12.
McDonald chose the Huskies over 23 other schools, and some had him penciled into his home-state school, Baylor — but he loved the “vibe” at Washington.
He will be back in town this fall too, “I think I’m going up there when they play Oregon”, he said.
McDonald won’t be enrolling early because he’s a returning state discus champion and will be staying in Texas to finish out spring sports.
Washington pursued McDonald hard after he was scouted in the spring, and it was just a matter of time until it all fell into place for all involved. This is a big pick-up for Petersen and his staff.
