University of Houston Athletics
FEATURE: Dancin' on Defense - Adrian McDonald
9/23/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
DANCIN' on DEFENSE
Adrian McDonald switched to defense as a Cougar and the results have been all positive.
By: Allison McClain, Houston Athletics Communications
He wants the football in his hands. No matter what - his eyes are on the prize at all times.
Built as a quarterback and now taking over as Houston's starting safety, his numbers don't lie and his mentality and focus are a force to be reckoned with.
Adrian McDonald will do everything it takes to have the football in his hands.
Growing up in Lawton, Oklahoma, McDonald was a dual-threat quarterback and one of Oklahoma's top prospects on the offensive side of the ball. However, standing 5-10 and possessing the speed to compete at the next level, McDonald knew defense was his calling.
"I always wanted to play defense, but they needed me on the offensive side of the ball in high school," McDonald recalls.
He went from touching every snap of the football to trying to steal it away, but nothing is more different than the physicality when defining the difference between each position.
"The physical part of going from quarterback to safety was the most challenging transition," McDonald says.
"Changing my mentality as a football player was key and it all started with tackling. You went from not getting hit at all during practice to leaving sore and wanting to be more physical than anyone else. That was a change for me."
Entering college and signing with Houston, a program always known for its offensive capabilities, McDonald knew that he would have the chance to help re-identify the Houston defense, and to this point he has not disappointed.
Houston defensive coordinator David Gibbs was easily impressed with McDonald when he took over the defensive unit in 2013.
"He is one of those guys that loves to play the game of football," Gibbs says. "He is either thinking it, breathing it or watching tape, and he continues to get better every day on and off the field."
Playing under defensive backs coach Zac Spavital for his first two seasons and now approaching the start of his third as a Cougar and under Gibbs as well, McDonald has been able to embrace the defensive mentality that those two coaches stress and credits that development to his own work ethic and the players he is surrounded by on a daily basis.
"We have a group of guys that want to be great," McDonald says of his fellow defensive backs.
His approach began when he enrolled in summer school a week after his high school graduation, and from there the transition from offensive play caller to defensive game-changer began.
"I could see the progress each day after I started summer workouts on campus," McDonald explains. "The fundamental aspect of playing safety was one of the first things I needed to learn and I felt like I had the leadership to do so."
Houston's defensive unit gained national attention in 2013 as it led the nation in turnovers created, due in large part to working under Gibbs and staff.
McDonald plays an integral role on that unit and has stepped up to be a leader and understands what it takes to be successful.
"We hold each other accountable. You have to in order to be great," he says. "We know everyone makes mistakes on the field, but we know as a group that we can't allow those same mistakes to happen twice."
"I'm not saying he is a vocal leader, but he is definitely a leader," Gibbs states.
"With A-Mac (McDonald) having the experience as an offensive player in high school, he is really just now learning how to play defensive back. The more practice reps he gets, the more snaps he gets in games, will just allow him to continue to get better."
McDonald credits a lot of the improvement for the Houston defense over the last year to Gibbs when he took over as the defensive coordinator.
"He (Gibbs) watered down the playbook and feels like we have the chance to be great. He gets on us for mistakes, but we all respect that because we are all aiming to be the best and that is what it takes," McDonald says.
As a former quarterback, McDonald understands the offensive approach and uses that knowledge to his advantage as a safety.
"I understand when the offense sets up in certain formations and have an inkling on what play they may run, while also being able to read the demeanor of the quarterback," McDonald notes.
"All of this allows me to gain that extra step on the defensive side."
That extra step contributed to McDonald leading the American Athletic Conference and ranking seventh nationally with six interceptions in 2013, creating his own highlight reel by the end of his second season as a Cougar.
Those six interceptions included 76 return yards, most notably at Temple on a memorable play was noted when he picked off a fourth-quarter pass and returned it 40 yards to seal a win over the Owls. He went on to finish his sophomore campaign with interceptions in his final three games.
"He has a knack for the game of football," Gibbs says. "He is a turnover magnet -- one of those guys that finds a way to strip the ball out, recover a fumble or read the quarterback and go make a big play for an interception."
McDonald has appeared in 22 games in his two-year career and totaled 134 tackles, including 99 last season, fourth-best on the team.
"I like making plays. I let them speak for myself. With Tre Stew (Trevon Stewart) next to me, we balance each other out," McDonald says. "It is nice to have a bunch of guys around you that compliment you and you are all aiming at one goal -- and that is to get the ball."
Behind the leadership of McDonald and his other veteran performers, there is unquestionably a buzz around this Houston defensive unit in 2014.
"I'm looking for a big year out of him and I feel like he is, too," Gibbs concludes. "He will continue to get better the more he plays.
"He is the quarterback of our defense."
And when asked about his greatest talent, McDonald says without hesitation.
"Going to get the football."
