3-star RB Jordan McDonald 'staying true' to self in college decision

Jordan McDonald is remaining true to himself in his recruitment. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound three-star running back from Milton (Ga.) High School has multiple Power 5 opportunities he’s trying to juggle.

But he says a decision isn’t imminent.

McDonald doesn’t feel the need to rush. He doesn’t like playing by the unwritten rules of social media and college football recruiting in 2021.

If he commits, it’s for the long haul.

“I’m just talking to as many colleges as I can,” McDonald said. “I’m still making connections with colleges around the country. I’m not trying to exclude anyone or make anyone stand out so far. I am one of those people that whenever I commit, I’m done. There’s no going back and forth playing the game. I’m just going to just stay true to myself. I know the person that I am. I’m one and done. I’m making sure I make the right decision the first try.”

McDonald says he’s being seriously recruited by a few schools. Florida State, Indiana, Michigan State among others have been on him this summer. He’s not going to name any leaders.

Jordan McDonald making a long-term decision

McDonald is thinking about his decision in the long term.

“Yes, I’ve proven to them to invest in me, now I want to see what they can do for me to invest in them and make my decision as well to go on for the long run,” McDonald said. “This is a big, important future for everyone. I know I need to make the right decision.”

Florida State has caught the attention of McDonald.

The Noles’ ability to recruit Georgia and build a strong group of recruiters has stood out.

“Everyone is starting to see the foundation that the coaches are bringing in,” McDonald said. “There’s a big strong base coming in with that recruiting class that they’ve got coming in. There are some great recruiters in that class. They have some really good talent coming in. Everyone knows they’re going to be on the come up soon.”

McDonald doing things his way since the beginning

McDonald remembers the moment he decided to let go of his self-doubts as a youngster. He heard a conversation about his parents talking about building a college fund for him as they had done for his siblings.

“Right then and there, I knew I was going to make it,” McDonald said. “They can sit back and live a nice life. I already told my mom cars I’m going to buy them, what houses I’m picking out for them. If I promise my parents something like that, then I’m going to go make it happen.”

McDonald knew early on that he wanted to play college and professional football.

He told his elementary school teachers that he was going to be an NFL star. When encouraged to be more realistic, McDonald retorted with, “I am being realistic.”

Family assistance key in Jordan McDonald’s decision

Early interest in football came from working with his brother and father in the backyard. McDonald credits that time in refining his fundamentals of playing the running back position.

“There more you grow as a person, the more you grow as a player,” McDonald said. “It becomes more and more nurturing to your body style. I know there are things that I do in games now, that I just do naturally because I did them as a little kid based on instinct. My body just does it by itself, and I don’t even have to think about it. My jump cuts, my fluidity was stuff I was taught as a kid. It all translates over now.”

McDonald will be leaning on his father, brother and mother in the stretch run of his recruitment. His father and brother were both recruited to play college football out of high school. McDonald’s older brother chose not to play at the next level.

The elder of the McDonald brothers sat down his younger brother and gave him a vote of confidence and a wealth of knowledge when he was still in elementary school.

Mom knows best

His mother will be leaned on heavily as well.

“Everyone knows momma knows best,” McDonald said. “They know that if momma has a bad feeling about something, there’s something off. It’s that mother’s intuition. She knows everything about education. She knows everything about my well-being. I think she knows things about me than I know about myself. I know my mom has my best interest and got my back in anything that I do.”