The former San Diego State transfer totaled three sacks and a forced fumble in nine games this season.
TCU senior linebacker Cooper McDonald made an immediate impact after transferring in from San Diego State, registering three sacks, four tackles for loss and one forced fumble over nine games with the Horned Frogs in 2024. McDonald will now prepare for the 2025 NFL Draft after announcing his decision to declare in a social media post on Thursday. The 6-foot-3, 240-pounder from Haslet, Texas totaled 25 tackles and 11 solo stops this season.
The next chapter begins….. pic.twitter.com/01rDzy4yhD
— Cooper McDonald ✞ (@coopmcdonald55) January 9, 2025
McDonald arrived in Fort Worth after spending two seasons at San Diego State, where he played alongside offensive lineman Cade Bennett, who also transferred to TCU last year. McDonald recorded 78 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks during his career with the Aztecs before signing with the Horned Frogs and becoming TCU’s starting linebacker at the EDGE position. McDonald’s collegiate career began at Washington, where he played two seasons and registered 28 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks over 15 games.
The ‘STUD’ position in Andy Avalos’ defense showed up in a big way on Friday night in the form of Devean Deal, Cooper McDonald and Marcel Brooks.
All three were flying around making plays, and it was a sight for sore eyes for #TCU fans. #GoFrogs | @TCUFootball pic.twitter.com/hZi2pz0uub
— Jamie Plunkett (@FrogPreacher) September 1, 2024
Despite missing four games this season due to injury, McDonald was a key playmaker at the EDGE linebacker position, earning a sack and a forced fumble during TCU’s Big 12 matchup against Houston in October. The fifth-year senior recorded at least four total tackles in four different games this season and contributed to a TCU defense that registered 26 sacks in 2024. McDonald is the latest Horned Frog to declare for the draft, following tackle Bless Harris, cornerback LaMareon James and wide receivers Savion Williams and Jack Bech.