'05 KY TE/DE James McKinney (Michigan signee, Louisville transfer)

[BuckNutty]

http://www.ohiostate.rivals.com/view...p?pr_key=23875
http://scout.theinsiders.com/a.z?s=1...05&nid=1058811



Ht: 6-4 Wt: 280 40: 4.9
Position: TE, DE
Projected as: DT, OL
High School: Central HS
(Louisville, KY)

Biography:
McKinney is a standout tight end and defensive line prospect. He is an excellent athlete that also plays baseball, basketball, and wrestles.

Junior Notes: Named AP All-State honorable mention & 2nd Team All-State by the Louisville Courier-Journal.

14 rec/290 yds/2 TDs; 9 carries/60 yds/2 TDs; 70 tackles/20 TFL/9 sacks/2 FR

Verballed early on to scUM but recently has stated he's not committed to anyone and wants to look around per the advice of his family. Schools like Ohio State, Notre Dame, USC, and Florida are recruiting him to play on the defensive line while Miami, scUM, and Tennessee like him at TE. Oklahoma and LSU have recently started to recruit him. scUM still holds a slight lead and he will camp there this summer. McKinney is on the preliminary Rivals 100 team and has offers from all his favorites. He measured in at 6'2", 277 pounds at the Nike Camp and ran the 40 in 5.12. Defensive tackle may be in his future.

[DaytonBuck]

Louisville is somebody to watch out for here. His cousin Stephen is will be a frosh with the Cards next year and he's mentioned a couple times he'd like to play with him and Brandon Logan of Lexington.

[Buckskin86]

The latest Rivals premium article confirms that he will be camping at tOSU on June 26th.

He did say in the article that his mom wants him to stay as close to home as possible. Since we are not too far from L'Ville and he is camping here, maybe we stand a better chance than originally thought.

It sure would be nice to steal one from the scummers

[stxbuck]

We have a decent track record recruiting in Kentucky. His coming to camp is a positive sign. Also, if he is smart, he has to realize that he will have more potential for the next level playing D-line at OSU than TE at 6'2 275 for scUM.

[LordJeffBuck]

According to Allen Wallace (who is the dean of recruiting experts, IMO), McKinney's favorite is Michigan, and OSU doesn't even make his top 12 schools! Looks like we can scratch this one off of our lists....

Allen Wallace (Insiders) on James McKinney (6/17/04)

[gmsbears]

[Buckskin86]

rivals premium

McKinney has narrowed his list to 14 schools (tOSU is still on his list). He will make a late decision and is not sure who his official visits will be. It is a pretty big long shot but at least we are still hanging around.

[Buckskin86]

http://www.courier-journal.com/cjspo...0827-3867.html

James McKinney, one of the top college football prospects in Kentucky, expects to play tonight in Central High School's season opener against Shelby County and has narrowed his list of colleges to 10.

The 6-foot-3, 275-pound McKinney, who has been slowed by a back injury during the preseason, said he should be ready.

But he's not ready to narrow his college list further. The All-State defensive lineman currently is considering Louisville, Kentucky, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Florida, Michigan, Southern California, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Clemson.

"They're all in the thick of it," he said. "It flips around everyday."

McKinney, who's had more than 40 scholarship offers, originally committed to Michigan last school year after making a visit to Ann Arbor.

"I got my first offer and jumped into it," he said. "I told them from the beginning that I was going to take my visits. If I had to say a leader, it would still be Michigan."

And what about UofL and UK?

"I like Louisville a lot," he said, "and there's an opportunity to play early at UK."

[BuckNutty]

Rivals Premium

When asked what schools he's considering, McKinney listed Ohio State as one of several schools he may visit.

Allen Wallace on McKinney

In this Insiders update McKinney lists Ohio State in his top 5 and mentions he likes the tradition at Ohio State, the location and the fact Coach Heacock could get him to the next level.

[Buckskin86]

rivals premium

tOSU is in his top 8 (scUM, ND, Louisville, Kentucky, Ohio State, Tennessee, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Clemson)- he plans on visiting Clemson and Nebraska but tOSU, scUM and ND stand a good chance of getting the remaining spots.

James mentioned that he watched some of the tOSU/Marshall game on tv.

[stowfan]

If anyone EVER passed the look test, this is the guy!

[BuckNutty]

Insiders Premium

McKinney recently visited Kentucky for the Indiana game and enjoyed his time there. Among the schools that have recently been in touch are Ohio State, scUM, Oklahoma, Kentucky and others.

[Buckskin86]

Insiders Premium

scUM, ND and Louisville are his three favorites but tOSU will get one of his five official visits.

[Buckskin86]

scUM insiders premium

He will make an unofficial for the game this weekend. He says it will be a chance to watch two teams he likes.

[Buckskin86]

Rivals premium- Kurelic

McKinney said he had a good time on his unofficial visit (spent time with the coaches) and he may make an official visit in the future.

He visits Nebraska Nov. 26, OU or Clemson for a 2nd visit and Ohio State or LSU for the next one.

The main schools he has been looking at are Kentucky, L'ville (co-leader) and scUM (co-leader).

He is a pretty big long shot but it sounds like tOSU may secure one of his five official visits. Who knows, anything can happen.