SAN ANTONIO — During the 2023 All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Waco (Texas) Connally four-star athlete Jelani McDonald has announced his commitment and signing to Texas to officially put a bow on his recruitment.
In a recruitment that saw McDonald pick up some major offers during his senior season amid an Oklahoma State commitment, Texas was the program that built the relationship the quickest to eventually earn his signature on Dec. 21.
"I feel comfortable there," McDonald said. "I feel comfortable around the coaches and the players, just being on campus is all comfortable for me. And it's not that far away from home, that plays a big role also."
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ALL-AMERICAN BOWL IN-GAME COMMITMENTS: Tyler Scott to Auburn | TJ Capers to Louisville | Jamari Johnson to Louisville | Peyton Woodyard to Georgia | Malik Elzy to Illinois | Caden Jones to Florida | Mikal Harrison-Pilot to Houston
MORE ALL-AMERICAN BOWL: Top performers at National Underclassmen Combine | Underclassmen now on our radar | Five East players we're excited to see play in the game | Five West players we're excited to see play in the game | Dante Moore talks about wild recruitment | Announcement guide/predictions | Faulk explains flip to Auburn | Gorney's Thoughts Day 2 | Stock risers | East vs. West, skills | Rankings questions arising | Proctor details Bama decision | OL vs. DL, Day 2 | East takeaways from Day 1 | West takeaways from Day 1 | Gorney's thoughts Day 1 | Jelani McDonald previews decision | Mikal Harrison-Pilot previews decision | East OL vs. DL, Day 1 | West OL vs. DL, Day 1 | Jamari Johnson announces finalists | Elzy talks about finalists
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The main relationship built between McDonald and Texas was with linebackers coach Jeff Choate, who himself puts one last splash on a successful 2023 cycle for recruiting at the position for the Longhorns.
"His commitment to putting as much as he can into us to get us to the next level whether that be football or education," he said. "He's gonna be there for us. That's with the whole coaching staff really."
McDonald took two visits to Texas during the fall in which he was able to take in a gameday experience against TCU while also returning to talk more in-depth with the coaching staff.
"Everything was cool," he said. "The first time, I couldn't even get on the field but seeing how many people there were, it's crazy to see how packed they can get that stadium. I liked that moment. Just being around players in the lounges, it was all cool."
The relationship was built in a quick enough span to communicate the vision for McDonald's time in Austin, and it something he believes in for his college career.
"They believe in me, I believe in them," he said. "They can help me develop and go as far as I want to."
As for what he thinks he can bring to Texas, McDonald wants to be a locker room and energy presence that can help be the oil to the motor of the Longhorns defense.
"A cheerful guy that's gonna put in the work on the field and off," McDonald said. "I'm someone that will keep a smile on my face and be someone with high energy."
McDonald's commitment adds to Texas' No. 3 class in 2023, helping to cement a podium finish in the team rankings.
At 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, McDonald is the No. 204 ranked recruit in the country for the class of 2023, according to Rivals. He is the No. 6 ranked athlete in the country and the No. 35 recruit from the state of Texas.
