Brandon McDonald (gridiron football) facts for kids
McDonald with the Detroit Lions in 2011
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| No. 22, 33, 39 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Cornerback | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | August 26, 1985 Collins, Mississippi, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 185 lb (84 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Collins (MS) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Memphis | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2007 / Round: 5 / Pick: 140 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
| Player stats at CFL.ca (archive) | |||||||||||||
Brandon Randolph McDonald (born August 26, 1985) is a former American gridiron football player. He played as a cornerback, which is a defensive position. He was chosen by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL draft. This means he was the 140th player picked overall that year.
Before playing professionally, he played college football at the University of Memphis. McDonald also played for several other teams. These included the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL. Later, he played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Calgary Stampeders, Ottawa Redblacks, and Saskatchewan Roughriders.
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College Football Career
Brandon McDonald started his college football journey at Jones County Junior College. He played there for two seasons. During his first year, he played as a receiver. In his second year (2004), he switched to playing in the secondary, which is where defensive backs play.
He was also a leader in punt returns for his team. After junior college, he transferred to the University of Memphis. He played two more years there as a starter. He studied education during his time in college.
Professional Football Journey
Brandon McDonald played for several teams during his professional career. He spent time in both the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Time with the Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns picked McDonald in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL draft. He made his first NFL appearance on September 9, 2007, against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He quickly showed his skills on the field.
In games against the Houston Texans and New York Jets, he played very well. He made tackles, defended passes, and got his first career interceptions. By the end of his first season, he had played in all 16 games. He had 24 tackles and 2 interceptions.
In 2008, McDonald became a starter for the Browns. He had a great year with 64 tackles and 5 interceptions. In one game, he made a very long interception return of 98 yards. This play set a record for the longest return that did not result in a touchdown. Later in that same game, he did score a touchdown from an interception.
The 2009 season was a bit tougher for McDonald. He was eventually replaced in the starting lineup. He finished that season with 55 tackles and 1 interception. The Browns released him before the 2010 season began.
Moving to the Arizona Cardinals
On September 5, 2010, the Arizona Cardinals picked up McDonald. He played briefly for them before being released on October 26, 2010.
Playing for the Detroit Lions
Just one day after leaving the Cardinals, McDonald was claimed by the Detroit Lions. He played for the Lions for the rest of the 2010 season and through 2011.
Short Stints with Other NFL Teams
McDonald signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on August 20, 2012. Later that year, on November 7, 2012, he was claimed by the Miami Dolphins. He then returned to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a short time in 2012.
Playing in the CFL
In 2014, McDonald moved to the Canadian Football League (CFL). He signed with the Calgary Stampeders on July 16, 2014. He was released by them a few months later.
He then signed with the Ottawa Redblacks on September 15, 2014. He played for the Redblacks into the 2015 CFL season. He was released by the team during that season. He had too many penalties, which affected his playing time. He briefly returned to the Calgary Stampeders in 2015. His last professional team was the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2016.
Brandon McDonald's Life Story
Brandon McDonald was born on August 26, 1985, in Collins, Mississippi. His parents are Lisa McDonald Gant and James Spencer. He went to Collins High School and graduated in 2003.
At Collins High, he was a key player for the football team. They won back-to-back State Championships. Besides football, he also played basketball and baseball in high school. He is related to other professional football players. His cousins are former NFL running back Correll Buckhalter and former NFL quarterback Steve McNair.
