#22

Hayden McDonald

DB · Nevada · Sr. · #22

Returning to Nevada for 2026
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Hayden McDonald

DB · Nevada · Sr · #22

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★
#2536 national
CFB
College
Nevada
2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2025Nevada3-9HC: Jeff Choate · Run-leaning, slow tempo

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Nevada35170.50.0------
Career35170.50.0------

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2025

W 20–17

vs Sacramento State

2 SOLO  ·  3 TOT

A wire-to-wire battle — won by 3 at home.

How he plays

Play style

Moves between deep coverage and the slot.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Nevada

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Defensive back · Nevada

Returning around him

  • 66% of 2024 offensive production back (Solid continuity)
  • Transfer portal: -7 net (14 in / 21 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Nevada · Last season: 3-9 · Talent rank #119 · 2026 recruiting class #97

DNA match

Player DNA

Hybrid Nickel

Moves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB.

S

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Juan Salas’s 2025 season.

Juan Salas

78%match

Eastern Michigan · 2025

#2

TJ Smith

Georgia Southern · 2024

77%
#3

Kasen Kinchen

Nevada · 2025

76%
#4

Jalen Jordan

South Alabama · 2023

71%
#5

Dontae Pollard

Temple · 2025

71%

Matches Juan on

Tackle volume
Weight
TFL rate

Differs from Juan on

Class year (higher)

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Elijah Palmer's freshman season at Hawai'i (2023).

Hawai'i · 2023

#2

Juan Salas

Eastern Michigan · 2025

78%
#3

Patrick Smith-Young

Old Dominion · 2024

75%
#4

Tyler Barnes

Southern Miss · 2020

71%
#5

Eric Sutton

Texas State · 2021

70%

Matches Elijah on

Height
Weight
Tackle volume

Differs from Elijah on

Class year (higher)

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #13668

Final rank
#13668
Avg #13815.7
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #13668 this season.