Hawaii football: Cole McDonald drafted in 7th round by Tennessee Titans

Hawaii quarterback Cole McDonald runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis on Feb. 27. / Associated Press

The following was posted on the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s breaking news.

Former University of Hawaii quarterback Cole McDonald is taking his talents to Nashville.

The Tennessee Titans today selected McDonald in the seventh round — No. 224 overall — of the 2020 National Football League Draft.

“I’m excited right now,” McDonald told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser in a telephone interview. “I’m super excited. I’m at home with a bunch of family and friends. It was pretty awesome. It was surreal to see my name up there (on the draft telecast).”

The move comes five years after the Titans picked Marcus Mariota, a Saint Louis school graduate and 2014 Heisman Trophy winner, with the second overall pick in the 2015 draft. Mariota’s contract expired with the Titans, and he signed with the Las Vegas Raiders.

As a fourth-year junior in 2019, McDonald threw for 4,135 yards (on 63.8% accuracy) and 33 touchdowns to help the Rainbow Warriors win the Mountain West Conference’s West Division title. In January, McDonald announced he would forgo his senior season to apply for the NFL Draft.


McDonald worked under Jordan Palmer, a widely regarded quarterback guru, and trained in a program administered by the Mamba Academy, which was founded by the late NBA great Kobe Bryant.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, McDonald ran 40 yards in 4.58 seconds, fastest among the 17 quarterbacks invited to participate.

McDonald said he had heard from several teams, including the Titans. Asked if he knew the Titans would choose him, he said, “I had some idea. But that call (from the Titans) solidified it.”

McDonald said he was pleased just to receive an opportunity in the NFL. “That’s all I needed,” he said.

COMMENTS

  1. boolakanaka April 25, 2020 1:06 pm

    Cheeeehoooo. Holumua Cole!


  2. wafan April 25, 2020 2:28 pm

    ‘Attaway, Cole!


  3. One Sr. April 25, 2020 4:02 pm

    Show’um what you can do Cole!
    Go Bows.


  4. H-Man April 25, 2020 5:44 pm

    Wishing the best for Cole. Thanks for being a Warrior.


  5. Darren Fong April 25, 2020 10:07 pm

    Good luck Cole. Thanks for the memories at Hawaii. You’ll be representing U.H. and our state. Can’t wait to see you play on Sundays.


  6. A-House April 26, 2020 9:34 am

    great to see that McDonald got drafted

    now, we shall see how much time he will be able to train before Titans begin dropping players leading up to the mandatory minimum roster players.

    Colt was not given a chance to show what he brought to the Redskins before being cut.

    we are fortunate that Midori7 transferred many “tapes” to dvd including the entire 2007 season – now can watch to remember how UH got to the Sugar Bowl


Comments are closed.