As the Longhorns begin an offseason full of change, they will have at least one familiar face to rely on next year. Veteran safety Jelani McDonald revealed on Friday on social media that he will return for the 2026 season. It will give McDonald one last chance to raise his stock before most likely taking his talents to the NFL. For the Longhorns, it is a welcome sign as they look to win a national title.
Over the last three seasons, McDonald has been a model of consistency for Steve Sarkisian. During his college career, the Texas native has recorded 108 total tackles and four interceptions. He has also added four pass deflections to his resume during that span.
#Texas DB Jelani McDonald announces he is back for 2026.
“The Last Rodeo” pic.twitter.com/upiYb2uoCb
— CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_OTF) December 26, 2025
One thing that has stood out about McDonald is his improvement every year. He took his game to another level during the 2025 campaign. He finished the regular season with career highs in tackles with 73, pass deflections with three, and interceptions with three. While the Longhorns did not earn a spot in the College Football Playoff, McDonald was a bright spot.
The announcement from McDonald comes as the Longhorns prepare to say goodbye to key pieces. On Friday, running back Quintrevion Wisner announced he was entering the portal. He joins a group that includes CJ Baxter, DeAndre Moore Jr., Aaron Butler, Will Stone, Trey Owens, and Liona Lefau. While that is not an easy group to replace, Texas will welcome one of the best recruiting classes in the nation to campus in just a few months.
Jelani McDonald’s Junior season was one to remember:
⚫️ 73 Tackles (Team leader)
⚫️ 4 TFL
⚫️ 3 INT
⚫️ 3 PD#HookEm 🤘🏻 pic.twitter.com/YIrV1LHokg— One Stop Texas (@OneStopHorns) December 20, 2025
With McDonald back in the mix, Texas has at least one veteran piece to rely on next year in the secondary. If the Connally Alum can continue to improve his game, then a few NFL teams should come calling once his college career is in the books.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Texas Football DB Jelani McDonald makes major decision on his future
