By JANIS CARR / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Like most young boys, Tevin McDonald wanted to be just like his dad. So he played football, but not at quarterback, wide receiver or punt returner.
Tevin played safety, just like his dad.
And like most younger siblings, Tevin McDonald wanted to be just like his older brother. So he played football, but not at a linebacker, center or running back.
Tevin played safety, just like his brother.
"That's all I knew when I was little," Tevin said of the secondary. "I thought it was cool to pick off passes, so that's what I did."
So he followed his father and brother by playing safety at Edison High in Fresno, earning high marks his senior year. Although not as tall or talented as his 6-foot-3 brother, Tevin was rated among the top defensive backs nation his senior season.
But when it came to picking a college, Tevin veered sharply from his family's cardinal-and-gold roots.
Tevin's father is former USC All-American Tim McDonald, who played safety for 13 seasons in the NFL. His brother is current USC starting safety T.J. McDonald, led the team in tackles last season with 96. For the first time in their lives, the brothers will play against each other when the Bruins take on the Trojans on Saturday at the Coliseum, pitting family history against a new generation.
While Tevin wanted greatness like his father and brother, he also wanted to do it his way. So he signed to play football across town at UCLA ? USC's hated rival. He hoped to forge his own blue-and-gold path.
"I guess I was surprised," T.J. said of his brother's college decision. "But my brother has always been T.J.'s little brother or Tim's youngest son. And UCLA did a great job recruiting him ... and at the end of the day, he had to do what was best for him."
Tevin said going to UCLA allowed him to establish his own identity.
"We (he and T.J.) went to the same elementary school, the same middle school and I played safety next to him in high school," Tevin said of T.J. "I really couldn't not take the opportunity to be here, and be Tevin McDonald and not Jr. Jr., or Little Tim or Little TJ."
Away from the cardinal-and-gold glare, Tevin has risen quickly up the depth chart this season. In October, the redshirt freshman moved into the starting spot after senior Tony Dye suffered a neck injury and two games later, came away with a three-interception performance in the Bruins' 31-14 victory against Cal.
His three interceptions tied a school single-game record, the fifth UCLA player to accomplish the feat.
"I hope he does well every week," T.J. said. "He's doing a great job."
Just not this week.
"To tell you the truth, I'm Tevin's biggest fan," T.J. said. "When he's out there Saturday, I want him to do really well, but at the same time I want to win the game. We'll be talking throughout the game ? a little trash. But when we get the final result, that's when the trash-talking begins."
Tevin might have continued the McDonald tradition of playing for the Trojans, if USC had ardently recruited him. UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel sensed the younger brother's talent and offered him a scholarship after his junior season.
"It was a fun recruitment because I got to tease Tim and Tim wears his colors proudly," Neuheisel said. "So our job was trying to convince Tim that this was a great spot for Tevin and he wouldn't have to be in T.J.'s shadow.
"It would be a way for Tevin to have his own identity at his own school, his own deal. I think Tim saw wisdom in that."
T.J., though, wasn't initially as supportive.
"When I talked to him about it, he just laughed," Tevin said. "He said "Of all the schools that I could have possibly gone to. But after he got over the part that it was his rival school, he started thinking how cool that it would be having two brothers leading the Pac-12 at the end of the season."
While Tevin wanted to create his own image, T.J. never tried to run from his father's oversized shadow. In fact, he wanted to follow in Tim's footsteps despite the comparisons.
T.J. said wanted to go to Edison High and USC ? just like his dad. He said he could have chosen a different high school and gone elsewhere to college, but he "wanted to fill his shoes."
So far, T.J. has done an admirable job carrying on the McDonald tradition. Through his first three seasons (with one game remaining), T.J. has five interceptions and 153 tackles. Tim finished his collegiate career with 325 tackles and 11 interceptions.
Tim McDonald, who did not return phone calls for this story, told ESPN.com last year that "T.J. is a great athlete. He is faster than I was and can jump higher. I knew what he was capable of. Without being too biased, I think he has the potential to be one of the great players."
Once T.J. got over the initial jolt of his brother wearing a UCLA uniform, he did what any older brother would do ? he took him under his wing. So, twice a week they get together to watch game film, scout opponents and eat pizza, allowing the McDonald a chance to be brothers and not rivals.
"He was my brother before all this," T.J. said. "My dad is fine with it, too, although he's not putting on any blue."
Contact the writer: jcarr@ocregister.com
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