Texas adds commitment from On3 top-100 LB Jelani McDonald

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Jelani McDonald has been on the clock for much of the past month, and now the decision is in.

McDonald, the Consensus No. 12 linebacker in the country, committed to the in-state Longhorns over the likes of TCU and Oklahoma on Saturday at the All-American Bowl. Texas has been trending for the top-100 defender out of Waco (Texas) Connally for much of the fall, which has included a handful of visits to Austin and more momentum for the Horns’ Big-12-leading recruiting haul.

“They think I can have a big role alongside Ant Hill, S’maje (Burrell), Derion (Gullette), and we can all be on the field and eat together, breathe together, work together and have chemistry and show that we’re the best,” McDonald told On3. “The atmosphere there is crazy. When I went down there, there were a whole bunch of people supporting them.

McDonald made up his mind last month. He officially visited TCU and Texas in December after backing off his commitment to the Cowboys midway through the fall. He’s been sitting on the decision ever since.

“It wasn’t easy, it was pretty hard,” McDonald admitted, “but I’m going somewhere I feel comfortable.”

“It’s going up,” he continued on Texas. “With the class they got now, it’s definitely going up. Everything is positive about the program, the coaches, and they all have a positive mindset there.”

McDonald is tabbed as the No. 137 player in the country, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. On3 ranks McDonald a bit higher at No. 82 overall.