Education
McFarland attended Lufkin High School in Texas, where he accounted for 53 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and four quarterback sacks in 2008.
McFarland attended Lufkin High School in Texas, where he accounted for 53 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and four quarterback sacks in 2008.
McFarland was considered one of the best defensive tackle prospects of his class. He was a 2008 first team all-class by Texas Football, a second team Texas all-state selection and also named Texas Academic all-state. He also was named district 15-5A Defensive Most Valuable Player as a junior in 2007.
As a senior, McFarland was a United States of America Today and Parade All-American.
He also played in the 2009 United States. Army All-American Bowl. 6 defensive tackle prospect in the nation, as well as the third-best run stuffer among defensive tackles.
He was ranked third among the nation defensive tackles in the nation by Scout.com, who graded him as a five-star recruit. McFarland picked Oklahoma over Texas, Louisiana State University and Southern California.
His recruitment was the topic of a New York Times story, which included a passage describing a lavish party with free alcohol and drugs and topless women hosted by Texas boosters in Dallas.
Because of the Sooners" depth at defensive tackle, McFarland was expected to redshirt in 2009. However, he saw some action in seven games as backup defensive tackle. He had a career-high two tackles in three games, and a career-high 1.5 sacks against Texas Agricultural and Mechanical. McFarland was named an All-Big 12 freshman by Entertainment and Sports Programming Network.com.
As a sophomore, McFarland appeared in all 14 games, starting three.
He had his first career sack against Iowa State, finishing with 1.5 on the day. In his junior season, he played in 13 games and started 7, recording 21 tackles for the season.
In his senior year, McFarland became a full-time starter, starting in 12 contests. He recorded a career-high 28 tackles for the year, including six for a loss of yardage.
McFarland was ranked 55th among defensive tackles available in the 2013 NFL Draft.
He went undrafted in the 2013 NFL Draft. San Diego Chargers
McFarland was signed by the San Diego Chargers. On August 25, 2013, he was cut by the Chargers.
British Columbia Lions
McFarland was signed by the British Columbia Lions in May 2015, joining their practice roster in June.