Taylor University offensive lineman Hayden McDonald has reached one of the highest honors in small-college football, being named an AFCA NAIA First Team All-American. Recognized as one of the top offensive linemen in the nation, McDonald’s name now sits on a list reserved for the very best players in all of NAIA football.
Earning AFCA NAIA All-American status is no small feat. The team is selected exclusively by NAIA head coaches, who evaluate players from across the country over the full season. They look at consistency, dominance against top competition, impact in big moments, and the ability to anchor an offense week after week. For an offensive lineman like McDonald, that means winning in the trenches on nearly every snap, protecting the quarterback, opening running lanes, and playing with a standard that opposing coaches can’t help but notice. To be chosen to the First Team is a clear statement: he’s not just one of the best on his team or in his league—he’s one of the best in the nation.
That standard started back home in Montague, Michigan, where McDonald played during one of the most successful eras in Montague High School football history. As a key piece up front, he was part of a program that expected deep playoff runs and embraced the kind of physical, disciplined football that builds future college linemen.
In 2019, Montague made a deep Division 6 playoff run, advancing to the state semifinals. Led by junior quarterback Drew Collins and an explosive offense, the Wildcats survived a dramatic overtime district final win over Ravenna and claimed a historic regional title on their home field for the first time in program history. Their season ended in heartbreaking fashion with a 31–30 overtime loss to Glen Lake in the semifinals at Clare, where Glen Lake scored on the final play of regulation and again on the final play of overtime. That near-miss left Montague one step short of Ford Field and burned in a motivation that would define the next season.
The 2020 team answered with a mission. Adopting the theme “Brothers For Life” (BFL) and using the pain of 2019 as fuel, Montague powered through a COVID-disrupted season to finish 12–0 and ranked No. 1 in Division 6. They dominated opponents throughout the playoffs, including a 41–16 regional win over Montrose in which they scored 41 unanswered first-half points. The run culminated in a 40–14 victory over Clinton in the Division 6 state championship at Ford Field on January 22, 2021. In that title game, Drew Collins—later named AP Player of the Year for Divisions 5–6—accounted for five total touchdowns (three passing, two rushing), while Sammy Smith hauled in three touchdown receptions. The win secured the program’s third state title, adding to back-to-back championships in 2008 and 2009, and further cemented Montague as a small-school powerhouse.
Those years in Montague, battling through deep playoff runs and ultimately celebrating a state championship, helped shape Hayden McDonald into the player he is today—tough, steady, and built for big moments. From that championship culture, he moved on to Hillsdale College to begin his collegiate career, then eventually to Taylor University, where his development and dominance on the offensive line have now carried him onto the national stage as an AFCA NAIA First Team All-American. His journey from small-town state-title runs to national recognition is a testament to how preparation, resilience, and high standards at every level can lead to the very top of the game.
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