Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
“I just feel like a player being able to play” - McDonald embraces being on an island for the Blue Raider defense
8/28/2024 5:26:00 PM | Football
The former Oakland High School standout has moved to outside corner from nickel this season
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Like many veteran Blue Raiders, De'Arre McDonald is in a new number for the Blue Raiders in 2024. As older players graduate, the single-digit numbers open up, and those who follow MTSU must relearn who is who on the field.
McDonald, now No. 2 instead of No. 28, made that process easy during fall camp. It'd be hard to miss No. 2 making all the pass breakups in one-on-ones, jumping routs in zone coverage, and, in general, making his presence known at outside cornerback from the start of fall until ahead of MTSU's season opener against Tennessee Tech this Saturday at 6 p.m. in Floyd Stadium.
"The matchups started to take over," head coach Derek Mason commented after a scrimmage where McDonald had multiple pass break ups in coverage. "I saw De'Arre making some plays. It was good to see him back, doing what he does."
His position coach was even more effusive in praising the Murfreesboro native.
"I tell De'Arre all the time, he probably has the most God-given talent out of a kid I've seen in a long time," cornerbacks coach Bryce Lewis said. "The biggest thing I'm trying to hone in with him is you have the league body and makeup. You have to have the league mentality and the league mindset as far as our process goes, repeatability."
As he's grown into that starting role in 2024, McDonald could not help but take some time after practice to reflect on his path to where he is now, holding down one side of the field in coverage for the Blue Raiders.
"It's beautiful to look back and say, 'Wow, I came a long way. A very long way,'" McDonald said. "I'm blessed every day."
The work showing on the field for McDonald is likely not shocking to many in the 'Boro, who saw McDonald star for Coach Kevin Creasy down the road from MTSU at Oakland High School on many fall nights, becoming a consensus three-star prospect as a prep player. According to 247 Sports, teams around college football took notice of the defensive back's talent, with McDonald holding offers from a plethora of power conference schools, including South Carolina, Virginia Tech, and Ole Miss, where McDonald eventually committed.
However, a coaching change in Oxford would lead McDonald to decommit and go to Cincinnati, appearing in just one game for the Bearcats before transferring back home to MTSU for the 2022 season. He's been a constant presence on the field for the Blue Raiders ever since, playing special teams and earning a lot of snaps as a nickel cornerback a season ago. He finished 2023 with 18 tackles (including a sack and 3.5 TFLs) and six pass breakups.
It might've been easy, given his success in that role and the talent and length brought into the room behind him, for Mason and his staff to keep McDonald at nickel, but he was quickly identified as one of the team's best options to start outside and given the chance to stick early in camp.
"It wasn't a shell shocking moment because I played (outside corner) in high school, when I was a lot smaller, a lot younger," McDonald said. "It took me about two or three days to adjust and get the speed down.
"Now, I just feel like a player being able to play," the corner continued. "Now I'm on an island, and I love that. The secondary loves having the weight on our shoulders because we'll always come up and make plays."
---
Off the field, McDonald has helped lead the Blue Raiders' effort with an essential part of the Blue Collar project, Mason's internal initiative to get the team into the Middle Tennessee community through acts of community service. McDonald has particularly taken to volunteering with the Boys and Girls Club of Rutherford Country, an organization he participated in as a young kid growing up in Murfreesboro after first playing in their flag football program.
McDonald remembers looking up to the teenagers and college students who would volunteer at the club when he was growing up, particularly those who were successful athletes.
"It was just like, 'Wow, I can't wait to be like them,'" McDonald said. "And now to be in the same shoes as them, it's amazing to see kids, to make kids smile, to be there for kids and give them what I looked for when I was younger."
Forging connections like that was exactly what Mason wanted from his players when starting the Blue Collar project.
"Once (De'Arre got involved), he couldn't turn a blind eye to young people looking up to him," Mason said. "He looked up to older guys when he was young, and it meant something to him...Just reconnecting to those feelings is really what we wanted as a staff. We wanted our guys to understand the opportunity is bigger than just the game we play. The things we can do for our community can make a difference."
For McDonald, who learned that Mason grew up in the Boys and Girls Club in his area as a child, reconnecting with a spot he grew up in as a child was just another way he has clicked with the head coach, ready to lean on him in the Blue Raider defense.
"He preaches to us every day that he's just like us," McDonald said. "Hearing that, it's like, 'he is, he is human.' It's nice that we can connect over situations like that and how he grows up."
McDonald, now No. 2 instead of No. 28, made that process easy during fall camp. It'd be hard to miss No. 2 making all the pass breakups in one-on-ones, jumping routs in zone coverage, and, in general, making his presence known at outside cornerback from the start of fall until ahead of MTSU's season opener against Tennessee Tech this Saturday at 6 p.m. in Floyd Stadium.
"The matchups started to take over," head coach Derek Mason commented after a scrimmage where McDonald had multiple pass break ups in coverage. "I saw De'Arre making some plays. It was good to see him back, doing what he does."
His position coach was even more effusive in praising the Murfreesboro native.
"I tell De'Arre all the time, he probably has the most God-given talent out of a kid I've seen in a long time," cornerbacks coach Bryce Lewis said. "The biggest thing I'm trying to hone in with him is you have the league body and makeup. You have to have the league mentality and the league mindset as far as our process goes, repeatability."
As he's grown into that starting role in 2024, McDonald could not help but take some time after practice to reflect on his path to where he is now, holding down one side of the field in coverage for the Blue Raiders.
"It's beautiful to look back and say, 'Wow, I came a long way. A very long way,'" McDonald said. "I'm blessed every day."
The work showing on the field for McDonald is likely not shocking to many in the 'Boro, who saw McDonald star for Coach Kevin Creasy down the road from MTSU at Oakland High School on many fall nights, becoming a consensus three-star prospect as a prep player. According to 247 Sports, teams around college football took notice of the defensive back's talent, with McDonald holding offers from a plethora of power conference schools, including South Carolina, Virginia Tech, and Ole Miss, where McDonald eventually committed.
However, a coaching change in Oxford would lead McDonald to decommit and go to Cincinnati, appearing in just one game for the Bearcats before transferring back home to MTSU for the 2022 season. He's been a constant presence on the field for the Blue Raiders ever since, playing special teams and earning a lot of snaps as a nickel cornerback a season ago. He finished 2023 with 18 tackles (including a sack and 3.5 TFLs) and six pass breakups.
It might've been easy, given his success in that role and the talent and length brought into the room behind him, for Mason and his staff to keep McDonald at nickel, but he was quickly identified as one of the team's best options to start outside and given the chance to stick early in camp.
"It wasn't a shell shocking moment because I played (outside corner) in high school, when I was a lot smaller, a lot younger," McDonald said. "It took me about two or three days to adjust and get the speed down.
"Now, I just feel like a player being able to play," the corner continued. "Now I'm on an island, and I love that. The secondary loves having the weight on our shoulders because we'll always come up and make plays."
---
Off the field, McDonald has helped lead the Blue Raiders' effort with an essential part of the Blue Collar project, Mason's internal initiative to get the team into the Middle Tennessee community through acts of community service. McDonald has particularly taken to volunteering with the Boys and Girls Club of Rutherford Country, an organization he participated in as a young kid growing up in Murfreesboro after first playing in their flag football program.
McDonald remembers looking up to the teenagers and college students who would volunteer at the club when he was growing up, particularly those who were successful athletes.
"It was just like, 'Wow, I can't wait to be like them,'" McDonald said. "And now to be in the same shoes as them, it's amazing to see kids, to make kids smile, to be there for kids and give them what I looked for when I was younger."
Forging connections like that was exactly what Mason wanted from his players when starting the Blue Collar project.
"Once (De'Arre got involved), he couldn't turn a blind eye to young people looking up to him," Mason said. "He looked up to older guys when he was young, and it meant something to him...Just reconnecting to those feelings is really what we wanted as a staff. We wanted our guys to understand the opportunity is bigger than just the game we play. The things we can do for our community can make a difference."
For McDonald, who learned that Mason grew up in the Boys and Girls Club in his area as a child, reconnecting with a spot he grew up in as a child was just another way he has clicked with the head coach, ready to lean on him in the Blue Raider defense.
"He preaches to us every day that he's just like us," McDonald said. "Hearing that, it's like, 'he is, he is human.' It's nice that we can connect over situations like that and how he grows up."
Players Mentioned
CB
/ FootballA look back: 1965 and 1985 Undefeated Blue Raider Football Teams
Wednesday, September 17
MTSU Football at Nevada cinematic recap – 9/13/25
Tuesday, September 16
Derek Mason LIVE: Presented by The Boulevard Bar & Grille Week 4 (Video)
Monday, September 15
MTSU Football Weekly Press Conference 9/15/25
Monday, September 15
