Western Carolina University

2025 (Redshirt Sophomore): Played in all 12 of the team’s games with one start at linebacker … Recorded 31 total tackles with 14 solo stops and three tackles for loss, including two sacks … Also credited with a pair of quarterback hurries … Made his WCU debut in the season-opener against Gardner-Webb (Aug. 30) … Posted his first tackles at ACC-foe Wake Forest (Sept. 6), finishing with four tackles, including three solo stops … Started his first game at Chattanooga (Nov. 1), posting his first double-digit tackle effort with 10 total tackles, including five solo stops and two for loss coming on a pair of sacks … Had five tackles at VMI (Nov. 22).

Prior to Western Carolina: Transferred to WCU during the spring after spending the past two years at Appalachian State … Saw action in six games over two seasons as a defensive reserve and on special teams, sitting out 2023 as a redshirt; High School: As a senior, totaled 87 tackles, seven tackles for loss, six sacks, eight quarterback hurries and four forced fumbles for a team that went 11-1 … All-Gwinnett County selection … Played as a two-way threat for coach Bryant Appling and helped Buford win state titles during a 14-1 season in 2021 and 13-1 season the year before that … Was a standout sprinter in track and field … Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.

Personal: Is the son of Markeetia McKinnis and Leroy McKinnis... Has a brother and sister named Dylan and Abby McKinnis