Kayden McDonald came to Columbus carrying an extra bundle of motivation in his backpack.
Somewhat overlooked by his home state Georgia Bulldogs despite earning defensive player of the year honors in talent-rich Gwinnett County and a four-star recruiting ranking, McDonald has been eager to live up to the mountainous potential of his 6-3, 328-pound frame.
“I’ve got a big chip on my shoulder,” McDonald said in March. “I don’t take any days for granted. You’ve gotta play every play like your last play, so that’s how I do it. I’m just really motivated.