In 1967, the Washington Redskins drafted Idaho’s Ray McDonald in the first round of the NFL Draft.
McDonald was the first, first-round draft pick in Big Sky history. The selection ranks 43
rd on the Big Sky Conference’s list of “50 Greatest Men’s Moments.”
The 6-foot-4, 235-pound running back played for the Idaho Vandals from 1963-1966. During his freshman season, McDonald was on the freshman football team. Prior to 1972, the NCAA did not allow freshman to play on the varsity team. The summer before his sophomore season, Ray tore his Achilles tendon while playing a pickup basketball game in Moscow. That season, Ray went on to lead UI in rushing with 585 yards and seven touchdowns.
In 1965, which was the first season that Idaho officially competed in Big Sky football, he had his best season yet. As a junior, he rushed for 1,002 yards on 213 carries. He led the team with 15 touchdowns.
His senior season proved to be the reason for the attention from the NFL.
In the final game of his senior season, Ray rushed for 255 yards against Weber State. Those 255 yards gave him 1,329 rushing yards for the season, enough to be the best in the NCAA.
Ray’s 255-yard game still ranks fourth in the Idaho record book for most rushing yards in a single game. That season, Ray averaged 132.9 yards per game, to this day a school record. He carried the ball 259 times, which ranks second in school history.
Ray rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his last two seasons as a Vandal. In 1965 and 1966, he was named an All-American. McDonald’s numbers are still sprinkled throughout the Idaho record book.
McDonald ranks No. 2 in career average yards per game with 97.2; he ranks No. 3 in career rushing touchdowns with 36; he’s No. 4 in career rush attempts with 603; and ranks No. 4 in career rush yards with 2,916. Keep in mind; all of these records are over a three-year career, not the typical four-year college career you see now a days.
Not only did Ray dominate on the football field, he was also a Big Sky champion in the shot-put and a two-time Big Sky champion in the discus. Ray also ran the 120-yard hurdles and participated in the long jump. Not to mention, he was a two-time All-American in track & field.
After being drafted in the first round, McDonald played two seasons with the Washington Redskins. In his first season he ran for 223 yards on 52 attempts. His NFL career was cut short due to recurring injuries.
McDonald has been inducted into the Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame as a charter member.
McDonald died at the age of 48 in 1993.
Below is a game tape of Idaho vs Oregon in 1966. If you move to the 0:27::25 mark you can watch Ray score a touchdown.