Goal No. 9: ELIMINATE MISTAKES. Don’t beat yourself.
#9 Donovan McIntosh
Redshirt Sophomore | 6-3 | 194 lbs. | St. Louis, Missouri
- Position: Cornerback
- Previous College:None
- Projection: Co-Starter
- Status: On Scholarship
Donovan McIntosh (b. Sept. 16, 2004) is a speedy defensive back from St. Mary’s High School in Saint Louis who is majoring in sports nutrition. He excels in both zone and man and is one of four Wildcats to run 23 mph.
McIntosh redshirted and did not play in 2023, but he entered last season in contention for a backup cornerback position behind the now-departed Jacob Parrish and Keenan Garber.
He competed in all 13 games in 2024, seeing time on 55 defensive
snaps and 46 special teams plays, including 42 punt return snaps.
McIntosh tallied three tackles on the season — against Arizona, West Virginia and Rutgers, the latter coming in the Rate Bowl when he started for the first time and also had a pass breakup on a third-down play.
He played on a career-high 19 defensive snaps against Rutgers in his first dedicated prep toward being a starter.
McIntosh prepped under head coach Ken Turner at St. Mary’s, where he was regarded as the 42nd-best cornerback in the Class of 2023 by On3 in addition to the 10th-best overall prospect in the state of Missouri.
He was a first-team all-state honoree as a senior from the Missouri Football Coaches Association after helping to lead the Dragons to a second straight state championship.
McIntosh committed to K-State over offers from Arkansas, Arkansas State, Ball State, Buffalo, Kansas, Lindenwood, Memphis, Miami (Ohio), Murray State, Nebraska, New Mexico State, North Alabama and Western Michigan, as well as interest from Cincinnati and Iowa.
His primary recruiter was assistant head coach and defensive passing game coordinator Van Malone, who is his position coach and his to say earlier this month during a fall press conference:
I’ve been proud and pleased with the efforts Donovan McIntosh has made. He came in here as a happy-go-lucky kind of guy, but he’s been more competitive, communicative, and in better positions to make plays on the ball.
McIntosh’s cousin, Lawrence Johnson, was a safety at Southeast Missouri State University.
Here was 247Sports’ candid assessment of McIntosh’s potential at the Big 12 Conference level:
Has the desired height and length to play Power Five football in the secondary. Plays corner in high school and has shown man-to-man ability but frame suggests safety can also be a possibility. Has good change of direction and shows he can flip his hips and run with receivers. Long strider who has enough speed to play outside corner but can still get faster and more explosive. Also needs to add some weight and strength. Most likely projection is Power Five starter as a boundary corner.
