McDonald played at Oklahoma from 1954-56, during the glory years under legendary head coach Bud Wilkinson. The Sooners were 31-0 during the time McDonald was at OU and in the middle portion of the team’s record-setting 47-game winning streak. He was a two-time All-American halfback and two-time All-Big Seven selection in 1955 and 1956, the same two seasons the Sooners won back-to-back national championships.
In the 1955 season, McDonald, who was from Albuquerque, New Mexico, became the only Oklahoma player to score a touchdown in every game of a season.
McDonald could do it all. Although he played the halfback position, he was used both as a runner and a passer and also caught passes as a receiver.