Space Traveler: How Cade McDonald Keeps Getting Open

SwingRX Golf Performance is proud to bring you this week's Front Row Feature.
For more information, visit https://SwingRXGolf.com.

- - -

Hall of Fame baseball player Willie Keeler was known for his philosophy of 'Hit 'em where they ain't.' In fact, the 19th-century batting champion has that famous quote etched on his plaque in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Miami Football's Cade McDonald seems to have a similar approach, albeit in a different sport.

Run where they ain't?

Admittedly, it doesn't roll off the tongue quite the same way, but still…

The RedHawks' redshirt senior wide receiver has a knack for finding space on the field and escaping would-be tacklers, whether he's piling up extra yards after a catch or making multiple opponents miss on a punt return.

"For me, it's just feel and instincts," McDonald explained. "It's not like I see something before the play happens so I'm like, 'I'm going to go THAT way.'

"I just know where the defenders are at and I try to go where they're not. Try to not get touched by them as much as possible!

"[When I come out of my break], I'll see where I left the defender when I turn around. Then I know where he's coming from, so I might just fake that way and go the opposite way."

McDonald's elusiveness was on full display in the RedHawks' opener at Northwestern last Saturday. Playing only 40 miles from his hometown, the Naperville, Ill. native made a game-high and career-high eight catches for 105 yards to lead the Miami offense.

More than half of his receiving yards —59 in all— came after the catch (what's known as 'YAC' on the box score). For instance, on Miami's fourth-quarter scoring drive, McDonald made a reception five yards downfield, spun away from Northwestern's Coco Azema, and racked up a total of 24 yards to carry the visitors into Wildcat territory. Two plays later, McDonald made a contested catch in double coverage to help the RedHawks find the red zone.

His combination of speed and strength makes the 5-11, 200-pound McDonald tough to bring down, even if a defender is able to finally catch up to him in the open field.

"Cade has natural instincts with the ball in his hands that you can't coach," said Miami head coach Chuck Martin. "His decision-making in punt returns: Like any good one, they're natural instincts.

"The second thing is he's strong like a running back. I know he plays receiver, but if you look at his frame…his body shape is like a tailback.

"He can run through an arm tackle, he can bounce off tackles, and he can make people miss…

"A lot of the short passes we throw, the runs after catches, he's really a tailback playing receiver. He has that skillset. That's why he's so good at the two things he does."

McDonald is beginning his second season with Miami, transferring in 2023 after four years as a walk-on at Michigan State. The three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection earned a Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management and played in 22 games for the Spartans before coming to Oxford on scholarship to pursue a Master's in Sport Management.

McDonald said the coaches and facilities at Miami were a big draw as he sought out his next program, but he was mostly looking for a school 'where I could have an impact on the team.'

Cade McDonald

He found that with the RedHawks.

(Ironically, the former high school two-sport standout had some prior experience as a RedHawk, having played football and run track for the Naperville Central Redhawks!)

McDonald made 28 catches for 353 yards and three touchdowns in 2023 to help the Red and White to an 11-win season and a Mid-American Conference championship. As part of Miami's dominant special teams, McDonald led the conference in punt return average (12.7) and was named Second-Team All-MAC as a returner.

"It's a great feeling to be a part of something special," McDonald said. "Everybody on those special teams units was just bought in. Everybody wanted to be there, everybody knew we were the best special teams unit, and we wanted to prove that every single week on the field."

Fast forward to 2024, and McDonald expects to build on that success while having even more balls thrown his way as a wideout.

"Obviously last year, he was a good part of our passing attack. He did a lot of good things, and he was a great returner," Martin said while pointing out the bigger roles and additional opportunities available this fall after the departure of several veteran wide receivers. "Cade stepped up [Saturday]. He's so good with the ball after he catches it. Really good route runner, really good hands: He can do a lot of different jobs for you. He's a pretty complete player, and he's very competitive.

"We talked to the offense, and I said, 'Raise your hand if you did good things in the game.' Just about everybody that played did good things; they all raised their hands. Then I said, 'Raise your hand if you did something great in the game.'…that's the difference…

"Cade was one guy that really stood out as far as not just good, but great at times."

No matter the impressive stat line or disappointing outcome, McDonald prides himself on not getting too high or too low. That's his message to his teammates during the bye week as the RedHawks look to rebound from a narrow defeat at Northwestern heading into the home opener Sept. 14 against Cincinnati.

"We had some losses last year, and I learned you've got to keep a level head through everything and not get too down on ourselves. We just have to keep pushing and coming together as a team: That's ultimately what led us to going all the way," McDonald explained.

"We did some good things as a team [last weekend]. We just weren't consistent enough. We played a good Big Ten team and we should have come away with the win. If we take those good things and build on them, we can carry that into the next game with Cincinnati… Cade McDonald

"We've marked this game on our schedule since the schedule came out…especially with us having the Bell right now, it's going to be even more special for us to keep that Bell.

"We're just all really excited to get out there and to have everyone here in Yager Stadium."

And whether or not there's an open seat to be had by the time next weekend's highly-anticipated showdown rolls around, one thing is for sure.

Cade McDonald will still manage to find —or create for himself— plenty of open space.

Find more Front Row Features at MiamiRedHawks.com/FrontRowFeatures.

The Bell Rings at Noon! Don't miss Miami Football's home opener against the Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday, Sept. 14 at noon. Tickets to the Battle for the Victory Bell at Yager Stadium are available now!

Space Traveler: How Cade McDonald Keeps Getting Open

Players Mentioned

Cade McDonald

Related Videos