McDonald announces he’ll return for senior season

Iowa State Cyclones defensive end Will McDonald IV (9) blocks the ball as Texas Longhorns quarterback Hudson Card (1) throws during the third quarter at Jack Trice Stadium, Nov. 6, 2021, in Ames, Iowa.

The best pass rusher in Iowa State history is coming back.

Will McDonald announced he’s returning to Ames for his senior in a tweet on Thursday. The FWAA first-team All-American is already Iowa State’s career leader with 29 sacks.

A native of Pewaukee, Wis., McDonald currently ranks No. 4 in Big 12 history in sacks and he’s recorded 27 sacks in his last 28 games. He also has the second-most sacks in the NCAA since 2020 with 22.

McDonald was considered one of the best pass rushers in a 2022 NFL Draft class that is stacked with pass-rushing talent. He’ll surely enter the 2022 season in Ames as one of the program’s most-hyped draft prospects in recent memory.

Jared Stansbury

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Jared a native of Clarinda, Iowa, started as the Cyclone Fanatic intern in August 2013, primarily working as a videographer until starting on the women’s basketball beat prior to the 2014-15 season. Upon earning his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State in May 2016, Jared was hired as the site’s full-time staff writer, taking over as the primary day-to-day reporter on football and men’s basketball. He was elevated to the position of managing editor in January 2020. He is a regular contributor on 1460 KXNO in Des Moines and makes regular guest appearances on radio stations across the Midwest. Jared resides in Ankeny with his four-year-old puggle, Lolo.

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