Kansas Football Adds Linebacker Anthony McDonald

April 13, 2012

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas football added another proven player to its roster in Anthony McDonald, who is joining the Jayhawks after transferring from Notre Dame. McDonald is scheduled to complete his degree in May, making him eligible to play for KU in 2012.

McDonald, a native of Burbank, Calif., played in 28 games for the Irish during his four seasons in South Bend. After sitting out the 2008 season as a true freshman, McDonald appeared in all 12 of Notre Dame’s games during the 2009 season playing under then Irish head coach and current Kansas head coach Charlie Weis. McDonald, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker, collected 10 tackles in 2009 while playing primarily on special teams.

During the 2010 season, McDonald played in 11 games for the Irish and recorded 11 tackles. He tallied three tackles in games versus Michigan State, Stanford and Miami (Fla.). In his final season at Notre Dame, McDonald recorded three tackles, while seeing action in four games.

McDonald, who will graduate from Notre Dame next month with a degree in sociology, was selected to play in U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio following his senior season at Notre Dame High School, where he teamed up with fellow Jayhawk, senior quarterback Dayne Crist. McDonald, who was coached by Kevin Rooney at NDHS, was placed on the all-Southern California team by Southern California Football Coaches Association and Orange County Register and was also named to the first-team all-Southern California team by GoldenStatePreps.com after he recorded 79 tackles and one sack in 11 games during his senior season.

McDonald was ranked by Scout.com the eighth-best middle linebacker in the country and the 16th-best prospect in California. McDonald was considered the 22nd-best player in California by SuperPrep and the third-best linebacker in the state, while Rivals.com rated him No. 31 in the state of California and the 11th-best inside linebacker. McDonald’s father, Mike, played at USC and was a long snapper for the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL.

With the addition of McDonald, Kansas has now signed 25 players to its 2012 signing class. The Jayhawks have added five players as Division I transfers, nine junior college transfers and 11 high school athletes.