Kayden McDonald is a dense, explosive interior defender whose pure play strength and anchor ability make him one of the premier run stoppers in the 2026 class. At 6’3”, 326 pounds, he wins with leverage power and leg drive, routinely collapsing centers and resetting the line of scrimmage. While his pad-level and pass-rush consistency remain developmental areas, his natural strength, heavy hands, and motor profile project as a ready-made early-down nose tackle in the NFL. McDonald’s best fit comes in odd-front or hybrid 3–4 systems where he can play shaded over the center, occupy double teams, and free linebackers to flow downhill.