Ourlads' Profile:
2023 Guide: What Ourlads’ NFL Scouting Services said about WILL MCDONALD IV:
Iowa State | H: 6040 W: 238 40: 4.70 A: 3478 H: 0912 W: 8214
Four year starter, Pewaukee, WI. First team All-Big 12 and consensus All-America in 2022. Outstanding athlete with over the top length. He didn’t take up football until his junior year in high school. Was a basketball and track athlete until he transferred high schools and the coach talked him into coming out. Started playing off the ball linebacker at Iowa State before moving to defensive end. He plays with a high motor and flashes outstanding playmaking skill. Has played all over the front but was mostly a five technique in 2022. While effective he’s better suited as a wide nine. Flashes extreme quickness at the snap with quick hands to engage a blocker. Uses his length well to separate and shed blocks. Can slip blocks on the move and sift inline from the edge to make plays. Excellent chase ability he has range in pursuit to chase across the field. Outstanding lateral movement and change of direction skill. When used off the ball he’s shown the agility and quickness to make plays inline and the range to make plays on the perimeter. Effective locating the ball he gets in on a lot of plays all across the front. Solid pass rush tools with ability to get underneath a block to bend and squeeze to turn the corner on the edge. He’s most effective as a speed rusher but also has a sudden spin move to counter back inside versus oversetting tackles. Has solid tackling skill but will occasionally end up with a shoestring tackle or miss. Needs consistency gathering and driving through tackles. Spends a little too much time on the ground working through a block. Could be a balance issue. If an offensive tackle can get into his frame he has trouble escaping. Lack of bulk is a factor. Is a better projection as a 3-4 outside linebacker.
2022 Stats: 36 T, 7.5 TFL, 5 sacks, 4 PBU, 7 QBH, 1 FF, 1 FR. Edge speed:left 2.28, right 2.26. 1st/2nd round.