Background
McDonald was born in Beaumont, Texas.
McDonald was born in Beaumont, Texas.
He attended East Chambers High School in Winnie, and played for the East Chambers Buccaneers high school football team
He was drafted by the 49ers in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He played college football at Rice. He was a three-year letterman, earning all-district 24-2A honors as both a tight end and defensive end as a senior.
He also competed in basketball and was a standout athlete for the East Chambers High School track team
He also had personal bests of 6.28 meters in the long jump and 12.53 meters in the triple jump. McDonald attended Rice University, where he played for the Rice Owls football team from 2009 to 2012.
He earned Conference United States of America All-Freshman honors after catching 12 passes in his first season. As a sophomore, he posted a career high eight touchdowns, to go along with 396 yards receiving on 28 receptions.
In his final two seasons, he recorded 999 receiving yards on 80 receptions and seven touchdowns.
He was a first-team All-C-United States of America selection at tight end as a senior. McDonald"s position coach at Rice was former NFL Pro Bowl tight end David Sloan. 2013 NFL Combine
2013 NFL Draft
He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round, with the 55th overall pick, of the 2013 NFL Draft.
He was a member of the relay team