CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Growing up in Hartford, Wisconsin, Trey McDonald grew up playing hockey, lacrosse and football. In eighth grade, he learned through perseverance and courageousness that football may be his long-term future.

In a youth league championship game, McDonald and his team got off to a slow start. At halftime, his father pulled him aside to try and get his mind right.

“It really fired me up,” McDonald said.

McDonald stepped up his game in the second half and led his team to a come-from-behind upset win against the top seed to secure the title. The impact of that game still sticks with him now in his senior year of high school.

“They were starting to look at me to lead by example,” McDonald said. “It felt really cool to see everybody rally around that.”

McDonald’s love of football became so strong that when the COVID-19 pandemic canceled his team’s season in 2020, he and his family moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee, in order to participate in his junior year.

The 6-foot-4, 225-pound linebacker enrolled at The Baylor School, becoming a top-40 player in Tennessee and an instant impact on the Red Raider defense.

He finished the year with 59 tackles, three tackles for loss and five forced fumbles. Off the field, McDonald was thriving academically as well.

This, combined with his outstanding leadership qualities, led to football offers from Ivy League schools such as Harvard, Pennsylvania and Dartmouth. Quite a thrill for a 17-year-old.

“Just to have those prestigious offers, it was pretty cool,” McDonald said.

McDonald was able to find a way to play Power 5 ball while still getting a top tier education with the opportunity to attend the University of Virginia.

“I just think it’s a great fit for me,” McDonald said. “It just felt like home.”

🔒COMMITTED!!!!🔒🔶⚔️🔷 #GoHoos #TheStandard #HoosNext @UVAFootball @baylorfootball_ @RaiderReCap @Coach_Popp @drewmeyer5 @UVACoachBronco pic.twitter.com/bYJlahvHqn

— Trey McDonald (@TreyDMcDonald) March 21, 2021

He will not be travelling alone, as fellow three-star from Chattanooga’s Boyd Buchanan School, Karson Gay, is also committed to play in Charlottesville.

“We talked a little trash in seven-on-sevens,” McDonald said jokingly. “He was obviously a selling point. I can’t wait to go up there with him.”

While McDonald’s focus is on football, he still plays lacrosse for his high school, seeing it as a way to quench his thirst for athletics in the off-season.

“It gets me out there in the spring and gets the competitive juices going,” McDonald said.

When neither sport is going on, it is all about improving physically and mentally to get the best out of himself.

“I like to see myself as focused,” McDonald said. “I see the opportunity I have, but I know it’s not going to be easy. I love getting into the weight room and watching film. I pride myself in that film study.”

His knack for reading plays pre-snap and picking up on tendencies paired with his athleticism and relentless motor is why he is the player that he is. These traits are also found in his idols, Ray Lewis and Ed Reed.

“I love the guys that hit hard,” McDonald said. “They were great leaders and they brought a different energy to the game.”

With Baylor 5-2 so far this season, McDonald is trying to bring that same type of energy to help his team get to the state championship.

“I really want to do some more with my team here,” McDonald said. “The best accomplishment I can go for is the next one.”

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