


The talent was so unusual that even the Jets made a social media post about it.
There stood Will McDonald IV, their first-round draft pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, leaping over an SUV in the parking lot in an undated video. And a few seconds later, following two other clips of the Iowa State defensive lineman’s athleticism, there was McDonald, again, leaping over a different car in a different parking lot.
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If there’s a list of strange skills among the first-round draft picks from Thursday, then McDonald — and his ability to jump over cars at 6-foot-4, 239 pounds — likely would rank near the top.
The bizarre feats generated an interview question at the Senior Bowl, and McDonald told NFL Network at the time that he enjoys exploring the “extreme” feats his body can accomplish, but “I can’t be doing that no more because I’m gonna be in the pros.”
McDonald then confirmed that in his introductory Jets press conference Friday, telling reporters that he’s “retired from jumping over cars.”
“The next thing I’m going to be jumping over is just tackles,” McDonald said, “so that’s it.”
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In the first clip, McDonald, donning an Iowa State football shirt, sprinted toward a Mazda and cleared the top, using just his left hand as a guide over the top of the car.
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“That actually is crazy,” McDonald told NFL Network at the Senior Bowl, laughing as the broadcast repeated the video clips of him jumping over the two cars. “Yeah, you know, I always want to try to take my body to the extreme, see what I can do. There’s a lot more to explore.”
While that probably won’t involve jumping over cars, the Jets hope that McDonald can at least maneuver around offensive linemen and reach opposing quarterbacks.
That’s why they selected him No. 15 overall, adding him to their group of pass-rushers, and didn’t mind his football inexperience, as McDonald didn’t start playing the sport until he was a junior in high school.
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“We feel like he is one of the most dynamic, if not the most dynamic, pass rushers in this draft,” Jets general manager Joe Douglas told reporters after their selection Thursday night. “A great combination of skill and production and athleticism.
“I think it was on full display at the Senior Bowl and all throughout his career in Ames. I’m fired up to add him to our strong unit and keep adding to the line of scrimmage.”
McDonald recorded five sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss and seven quarterback hurries during his final season with the Cyclones, and he became the first Iowa State player to become a first-round pick since 1973.