McDonald Named AFCA NAIA First-Team All-American
UPLAND, Ind. – Center Hayden McDonald was named a 2025 AFCA NAIA First-Team All-American, as announced on Thursday by the American Football Coaches Association.
McDonald’s All-American honor is the second for the Taylor football program in as many years, with Aven Jones earning AFCA NAIA Second-Team recognition last season. McDonald is TU’s first AFCA NAIA First-Team All-American since Adam Sauder in 2015 and is the program’s 39th total NAIA All-American award.
McDonald started at center in each of Taylor’s 11 contests during his junior season, anchoring an offensive line that helped the Trojans rush for over 300 yards in six games and surpass 200 yards on the ground in nine outings.
With McDonald leading the front line, Taylor set new program records with 48.5 points and 503.9 total yards of offense per game during the 2025 campaign. The Trojans ranked fifth in the NAIA during the regular season in those statistics, while ranking second with 304.9 rushing yards per game.
Taylor has now collected seven NAIA All-American honors already for the 2025-2026 year.
