Kayden McDonald an Outland Trophy Semifinalist
11/20/2025 6:10:00 AM | Football
Eight different Buckeyes are a semifinalist for 11 different awards … some for multiple awards
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State junior defensive tackle Kayden McDonald was named this evening as a semifinalist for the Outland Trophy, which is awarded annually to the nation's outstanding interior offensive or defensive lineman.
McDonald, a 6-3, 326-pounder from Suwanee, Ga., and Gwinnett High School, is having a terrific season for the nation's top-ranked team and the nation's No. 1 defense. He is fourth on the team with 44 tackles and he is third with 8.0 tackles for loss and fourth with 3.0 quarterback sacks. He leads the team with two forced fumbles and he also has one quarterback hurry and one fumble recovery.
McDonald has been at his destructive best in Ohio State's biggest games: career-high eight tackles vs. both Texas and Penn State and seven tackles, including 3.0 TFLs (minus-18 yards) and two QB sacks, vs. Washington.
Ohio State's defense is No. 1 nationally in 14 different statistics, including No. 1 in total defense, No. 1 in scoring defense, No. 2 in rushing defense and No. 2 in passing defense.
Ohio State's 2025 National Award Semifinalists
Bednarik Award – Caleb Downs and Arvell Reese
Biletnikoff Award – Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate
Butkus Award – Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese
Lombardi Award – Caden Curry, Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese
Lott Impact Trophy – Caleb Downs
Maxwell Award – Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith
Davey O'Brien Award – Julian Sayin
Outland Trophy – Kayden McDonald
Thorpe Award – Caleb Downs
Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year – Julian Sayin
Walter Camp Player of the Year – Caleb Downs, Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith
Semifinalist Honors by Player
DE Caden Curry – Lombardi Award
SAF Caleb Downs – Bednarik Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy, Thorpe Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year
DT Kayden McDonald – Outland Trophy
LB Sonny Styles – Butkus Award, Lombardi Award
LB Arvell Reese – Bednarik Award, Butkus Award, Lombardi Award
QB Julian Sayin – Maxwell Award, Davey O'Brien Award, Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year, Walter Camp Player of the Year
WR Jeremiah Smith – Biletnikoff Award, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year
WR Carnell Tate – Biletnikoff Award
