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Jimmy McKinney |
Position: Linebacker Previous College: None Projection: Redshirt Status: On Scholarship |
James-Michael Ray McKinney (b. Aug. 17, 1997) is an athletic and hard-hitting linebacker who could compete for playing time in the linebacker rotation as a true freshman, but still is likely to redshirt this season to add weight.
A four-year letter-winner for Oologah High School under head coach Brandon Craig, McKinney was rated the 16th-best inside linebacker in the class of 2016 by ESPN.
McKinney also was viewed as the No. 5 prospect in the state of Oklahoma by ESPN and No. 11 by Rivals.com.
He recorded 504 tackles and 12 sacks during his four-year career, including 181 tackles, five sacks and four interceptions during his senior campaign. He also rushed 175 times for 1,169 yards and 19 touchdowns that year.
McKinney was named a first-team All-State performer by The Tulsa World, while the organization named him the second-best linebacker in the Tulsa metropolitan area.
He also earned all-state honors from the Oklahoma Coaches Association, The Oklahoman and OKPreps.com.
McKinney was selected to play this month in the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State football game. He was a second-team all-state pick as a junior and also participated in track — he was a state qualifier in the 4x100.
He helped the Mustangs to earn an 11-3 record in 2015, which culminated in a one-point loss in the Oklahoma Class 4A state championship game, a contest in which he recorded a game-high 15 tackles.
You can watch McKinney's high school highlights below: