Tag: Verone McKinley III

Dolphins player profile: S Verone McKinley III

He could be getting some shine at some point this season.

Following a massively successful offseason with numerous acquisitions and strategic contract moves, the Miami Dolphins put the icing on the cake with a slew of low-risk, high-potential undrafted free agents.

The 2022 UDFA class has 13 now-signed members who will fight for a roster spot or a place on the practice squad. The junior varsity group had been the starting point for a number of now full-time Dolphins, such as Nik Needham and Robert Jones.

This draft class for Miami was light thanks to the trade with the Kansas City Chiefs that netted the Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill. While Miami only selected four players in the draft, they supplemented those picks with over a dozen free agents, some of who are expected to make a run at the 53-man roster.

On the top of that list, is a player that arguably should’ve been drafted – Oregon safety Verone McKinley III.

All he did in 2021 was tie the national college football lead in interceptions with six. He was also given first-team All-Pac-12 and first-team All-American honors.

McKinley was a collegiate teammate of Jevon Holland, the Dolphins’ second-year safety star. Holland had a glowing reference for his secondary defensive mate.

“His talent’s going to rise to the top,” Holland told Miami reporters during a May press conference. “He fits right in with the culture of the team.”

McKinley is similar to Holland in terms of playstyle, being equal parts hitmaker and pass-defender. Last season, he recorded 77 total tackles and six passes defended.

The former Duck is aware of his opportunity.

“Learning all the safety spots and just growing,” he said during OTAs. “Safety, nickel whatever. Just trying to be a sponge, essentially. Come in, learn the defense and learn special teams as well.”

There’s a lot of hype around McKinley’s potential, and he already comes in with a ready-made nickname, “The General.” Ironically, the nickname was given in 2020, the year Holland opted out of the college football season, and McKinley was the one to step into the leadership role.

These two are once again part of the same battalion, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them on the field together at one point during the 2022 season. McKinley could be an ultimate depth defensive back for Miami at safety, as Miami already has a number of viable options with Holland, Brandon Jones and Eric Rowe.

Regardless of the current group on the roster, his talent is too great to let slip to the open market, so with a draft class of only four players, it’s rather safe to just assume “The General,” is a de facto member of that squadron.

McKinley will continue trying to prove throughout minicamp, OTAs and eventually training camp, leading into a trio of pre-season games before the long haul of the 2022 season, a season that should see McKinley in orange and aqua as a member of the active roster.

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Dolphins safety Verone McKinley explains nickname that could help him make the roster

He’s called “The General.”

The Miami Dolphins added a ton of new players to their roster this offseason, including four drafted rookies and 13 undrafted free agents.

One of those new, young faces around the building is safety Verone McKinley III. McKinley wasn’t selected in this year’s draft after a decent career at Oregon where he played alongside Jevon Holland before Holland opted out and was drafted.

Now, the two are reunited in Miami, but something else from college could be making the trip as well – McKinley’s nickname. At Oregon, the safety became known as “The General,” and the reasoning behind the nickname is probably one of the reasons the Dolphins were interested in bringing him in.

“So, ‘The General’ came about around 2020,” McKinley said after rookie minicamp this past weekend. “Jevon had opted out and somebody needed to step up. So, throughout camp and in the season, I was somebody who could control the defense, get guys lined up, know what everybody’s doing and be able to make adjustments kind of like a General. It started to grow throughout practice, different guys like ‘oh that’s The General.’ It was just something that blew up and then this year just after the Ohio State game it really just took off. That’s just something I kind of pride myself on knowing what to do, knowing what everyone does and having that responsibility knowing that I want on my shoulders and being able to let guys know that they can trust me.”

The Dolphins have a lot of nicknames going around right now, but McKinley’s speaks to his leadership ability and football acumen. If he can show that on the practice field throughout the summer, “The General” may be able to carve out a roster spot for himself.

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Jevon Holland talks up UDFA college teammate and mocks Brandon Jones’ nickname

The safety is a little biased when it comes to their newest UDFA safety.

A trio of Miami Dolphins met with South Florida media on Wednesday, and among that group was second-year safety Jevon Holland.

The 2021 second-round pick out of Oregon had a terrific rookie season in Miami, and even made a name for himself on a league-wide scale at his position.

Holland showed poise beyond his years last year and was formidable all over the field as a rookie. Due to his ability to blitz the passer, drop into coverage or lay the wood on booming hits, Holland recorded an 81.1 grade last season from Pro Football Focus.  That mark was good for the fifth-highest grade for all rookies in 2021.

Holland discussed several topics with reporters, including the drafting of a former collegiate teammate of his, the coaching staff, new team acquisitions and some lessons he took from his inaugural professional season. You can tell when Holland speaks, that he does so with conviction and without complacency.

“Everybody is replaceable,” he said.  “At the end of the day, you play and have fun because the NFL is not for long. At any point, you could be out of there, so just make sure you take full advantage of your opportunity.”

When asked about what he has been working on and focusing on heading into his second year as a pro, Holland’s answer was simple.

“It’s about repetition.” He said. “You’ve got to do something over and over again to make it a habit. That’s been my approach to how I operate this entire offseason. I think my whole gameplan for the offseason and approaching OTAs and minicamp is having the right amount of reps and to go about it in a patient manner.”

Reporters also asked about the firing of coach Brian Flores, the retention of defensive coordinator Josh Boyer and if the scheme and strategy will change at all.

“I’m just going to do what the coaches tell me because they are cutting the checks, so I’m just going to do it.,” He said. “It is what it is, but seriously, I’m just going to play what they say. That’s literally all. I’m not even going to shortchange you. I’m just giving it to you straight.”

Holland was as direct as his blitzing route to the passer and as blunt as one of his bone-crushing hits in the defensive backfield. A confident Holland let reporters know that the defensive success in the second half of last season may have just been the start of something special.

“The defense understands how [Boyer] functions, and we work well together,” Holland said. “You all saw that at the end of last season. I think it’s going to be great for our team, for our defense also.”

Now, Holland has his Oregon Duck defensive backfield teammate in the building, as Miami signed undrafted free agent Verone McKinley III, and he’s excited. The defensive back’s name was not called during the draft, but many have already labeled this a steal for Miami.

McKinley was given $85,000 guaranteed, so that could be a solid indicator of the Dolphins’ faith and hope in him. Holland was asked to give a scouting report, and he enjoyed answering.

“I would, but I feel like I’d be a little bit biased because he is one of my best friends,” Holland said. “That’s why I’m not going to say anything. He’s going to rise to the top. I believe in him. He’s a hell of a player and an even better guy. He fits right in with the culture of the team.”

Getting a bit more detailed on McKinley’s specific strengths, Holland praised his ball-tracking ability. This is something Oregon defenders pride themselves on.

“That was one of the main emphasis as a defense at Oregon, and you kind of saw that in how we played in the 2019 year, in the 2020 year, and then last year he led college football in interceptions and the Pac-12 also,” Holland said. “He’s a hell of a player.”

The presser went a little off the rails when the nickname conversation started. While it’s well known that Holland is Miami’s only “Snowman,” fellow safety Brandon Jones’ moniker is a work in progress.

In something Dolphins Twitter relishes, Holland and Jones utilized emojis to highlight their aliases. Holland provided clarity on the process, saying,

“[Jones] said it’s the joker which I understand because of the clown face,” Holland said. “But I’m like ‘bro, you got to put more context into that.’ First of all, it wasn’t even explained before. No one calls him the joker. For him to just throw it out there, it looked like he was calling himself a clown. He’s not going to call himself that anymore. We’re going to find something else for him.”

The media session ended as talk moved to the new additions on offense for the Dolphins, and Holland sees this as an opportunity for improvement.

“Just those experiences and challenges they are going to add to practice every day is going to be awesome for us,” he said. “We’re going to be in tune and already have seen those types of looks when we play the games.”

While the NFL season is still months away from kicking off, Holland, the Dolphins, and fans across the league will know when and where 2022’s games will be soon enough, as the league will release the full season schedule in just one week.

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2022 NFL draft Day 3 mock: Jets address remaining needs in fourth round

See who we have the Jets landing with the 111th and 117th picks in our Day 3 mock draft.

The final day of the 2022 NFL draft is just hours away from beginning and the Jets still have holes to fill.

New York spent day two of the draft adding playmakers in Iowa State running back Breece Hall and Ohio State tight end Jeremy Ruckert. Joe Douglas’ focus on offense makes it likely that he emphasizes improving defensive depth with Gang Green’s pair of fourth-round picks. There is also a chance he takes a stab at improving the offensive line depth.

As it stands right now, the Jets pick at No. 111 and No. 117. Let’s take a crack at predicting who Douglas will target with those selections.

2022 NFL draft: The top 11 safeties

Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar concludes our positional rankings with the top 11 safeties in the 2022 NFL draft.

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What the NFL expects from its safeties has changed drastically over the last decade. There are multiple reasons for this.

Think about the need for a true shutdown post safety in predominantly single-high coverage. A decade ago, when Seattle’s Legion of Boom defense was the desired template, you were playing heavy press underneath with defined box and post safeties. The Seahawks were able to do this because they had a dominant press cornerback (Richard Sherman), a dominant box safety (Kam Chancellor), and the best post safety of his era (Earl Thomas).

That’s not an easy archetype to copy, because you obviously have to hit on multiple generational players at crucial positions that all teams desperately desire. Your hit rate is reduced by the scarcity of human beings who can do what Sherman, Chancellor, and Thomas could do, and it’s then exponentially reduced even more by the fact that so many teams are looking for those same types of players. Factor in the relative lack of scheme versatility in that particular instance, and all of a sudden, the structure for your hit rate goes from the ceiling to the basement.

Now, look at where the NFL has prioritized its defensive resources in the last few years. The Vic Fangio/Brandon Staley template of two-high coverage and lighter boxes works in today’s NFL for a lot of reasons. Teams are throwing more often. Teams are running the ball not only less, but in different ways and with different types of players. In 2021, offenses threw out of more quick-game concepts (zero to three step drops) at a 60% rate, and the ability of the quarterback to have second-reaction ability to keep things alive when the play breaks down is seen as more of a near-necessity than a prominent luxury.

So, that Earl Thomas/Ed Reed-level deep safety, while awesome if you can get him and if he even exists in any draft cycle? I mean, if you know the draft prospect can possibly be that level of player, you move heaven and earth to get him, because you’re talking about a once-in-a-decade player who can define your defense.

More likely, you’re getting safeties who do a lot of things — some very well, some with developmental issues, and some things they probably shouldn’t be doing at all. You’re going to want a guy who can play some free, some slot, some box, maybe even a few snaps of outside corner, and some reps as a blitzer along the defensive line. It’s why teams go less and less for the defined box and free safeties as they used to.

There are far more Tyrann Mathieus than Earl Thomases. And there are far more safeties who work well in two-high shells, whether they stay in two-high or spin to something else post-snap. Player value at the position has turned from athletic to schematic. It’s more about finding the player who works in the concepts you want to run, as opposed to waiting around for the guy who will fill in the nearly impossible blank.

Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton, the consensus top safety in the 2022 draft class, had 1.440 defensive snaps over three collegiate seasons, per Pro Football Focus. Hamilton had 644 snaps at free safety, 437 in the slot, 313 in the box, 29 along the defensive line, and 15 at outside cornerback.

Hamilton’s specific value is not in his ability to play that many positions, because nearly every safety coming into the draft over the last few years has a somewhat similar position share. His specific value is in his ability to take the multi-position archetype that is the order of the day, and play those positions at a level that is disproportionately high in comparison to the other safeties in this class. Factor in his height/weight template, and that’s where Kyle Hamilton becomes a potentially generational prospect. It’s not at all that he does one thing very well. It’s entirely that he does 4-5 things, he’s NFL-ready at all of them, and he’s NFL-plus ready with this or that attribute in ways we haven’t seen from other players.

When you see the position snaps for the top 11 safety prospects on our list. you’ll see, over and over, how much the value guide for the position has flipped on its head.

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Here are Touchdown Wire’s top 11 safeties in the 2022 draft class.

(All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus and Sports Info Solutions unless otherwise indicated. All testing data comes from the 2022 scouting combine, with percentile per position, courtesy of MockDraftable.com. Certain biographical information was gleaned from Dane Brugler’s “The Beast” draft guide over at The Athletic, which is a must-read every year).

2022 NFL draft: The top 11 cornerbacks

2022 NFL draft: The top 11 linebackers

2022 NFL draft: The top 12 edge defenders

2022 NFL draft: The top 11 interior defensive linemen

2022 NFL draft: The top 11 interior offensive linemen

2022 NFL draft: The top 11 offensive tackles

2022 NFL draft: The top 11 tight ends

2022 NFL draft: The top 16 receivers

2022 NFL draft: The top 11 running backs

2022 NFL draft: The top 11 quarterbacks

Chargers Prospect Interview: Oregon S Verone McKinley III

The versatile defensive back would be a solid addition to the Chargers’ secondary.

The Chargers Wire staff is back after a week spent in Mobile, AL, observing the Reese’s Senior Bowl, one of the pinnacle all-star events in the months leading up to the NFL Draft.

There, prospects had the opportunity to receive coaching and compete in front of NFL personnel and coaches during the three days of practice and game.

While we were down there, Gavino Borquez had the opportunity to talk to Oregon safety Verone McKinley III about his experience at the prestigious event and what the NFL draft process has been like for him so far. 

Vitals

Height: 5105
Weight: 196
Hand: 9
Arm: 3068
Wing: 7300

College Bio page

Chargers Fit

McKinley may be a bit undersized for true free safety, but he makes up for it with his quick-twitch reaction speed, athleticism, ball skills, football IQ, and downhill close to the ball. He is sticky in man coverage but possesses the desired aggressiveness to reliably put down ball carriers as a run defender. McKinley is a natural leader and tone-setter who can be a versatile chess piece for Los Angeles. 

Round Projection: 2nd

Highlights

GB: You played quarterback and wide receiver in high school. How do you feel like that helped you switch to the other side of the ball and play defensive back?

VM: I would say quarterback-wise, it helped me with the leadership side and to be able to command things on defense. Make sure I get everybody lined up, make sure you know what everybody needs to do. It kind of gave me that ability to be ‘The General.’ For my time at wide receiver, that’s where the ball skills come into play. To be able to track the ball, see the angle of it, turn my hand certain ways and be able to reel in those interceptions. That’s where the ball skills come from.

GB: That’s obviously a strength of yours. You had 11 interceptions throughout your college career. Speaking of that, what would you say is your best trait?

VM: Being able to mix my athletic ability with my IQ, that’s probably like my biggest trait because I’m able to play ahead of the snap and have a jump on different things. That’s why I’m always playing ahead of the offense and able to diagnose things, see it, and just go get it. So putting that athletic ability with my IQ together is what I feel makes me probably the most special.

GB: Do you model your game after someone?

VM: I have the same defensive back trainer as Jamal Adams, so that’s how I know him and bounce ideas off of him. But I wouldn’t just say him… Tyrann Mathieu, Buddha Baker, Jessie Bates, and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Those are just some guys right there that I kind of model my game after. I like to pick different pieces of their game and implement them into mine.

GB: You’ve known Adams since sixth grade, What’s the number one lesson you have learned from him?

VM: Just always to be different. Always try to do more and stand out from the pack. There are always great players everywhere, but what are you going to do to really stand out and separate yourself from that? I feel like he’s been a big part of me understanding that.

GB: You are a versatile defender and were used in a lot of different alignments at Oregon. If you had to choose, would you say you’re most comfortable in a two-high shell, centerfielder role, or in the slot?

VM: It kind of depends on who we’re playing. For instance, certain teams have certain strengths, and I want to be able to go after those strengths and make them a weakness. So let’s take the Super Bowl for example. With Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins out wide, I’ll probably want to play more centerfield or two-high to be able to help my cornerbacks out. But if we’re playing the Rams, you know Cooper Kupp gets a lot of those targets. I would like to go into the slot, challenge Kupp on the option routes, and make things difficult for him.

GB: We are seeing an evolution of the safety position happening right now, what does playing the position look like for you on the field?

VM: I feel like it makes me versatile, but it allows me to thrive in different systems. I would say to be a safety you have to be the quarterback of the defense and that’s kind of where the whole ‘General’ title came from. You got to make checks, you got to be able to cover receivers, tight ends, running backs, you got to be able to get in the slot, blitz, play in the box. You have got to be able to do everything. Now, certain people are gonna use you certain ways, but if you have that ability to do everything it just helps you out even more. My dad always told me to know everything, know what everybody does, know where your help is to be able to play all those spots. 

GB: Who was the hardest receiver to cover when you were at Oregon?

VM: The Ohio State receivers (Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba), Drake London, Bradon Aiyuk. 

GB: Why were they difficult to cover?

VM: They are all different in their own ways, but those are NFL receivers right there. You want to go against the best of the nest, but these types of guys all bring something special to the table. You got to make sure you’re on your P’s and Q’s at all times because these are guys that can make a play at any moment. 

London’s a big-body guy that’s really good at the jump ball. Olave’s a speedster. Aiyuk and Smith-Njigba are players that can do it all and very good all-around receivers. Wilson runs really good routes and has great releases.

GB: If I were to talk to your head coach or your defensive coordinator, what is the one word they would tell me to describe you?

VM: Cerebral. I would say that because for me, it’s not just about the physical side of the game but the mental side as well. When you’re a student and want to continue to learn, especially somebody like that who is a big film junkie and somebody that just loves football, I’ll go in and meet with coaches and make sure to see it from both perspectives, a player and coach perspective. That allows me to play faster, understand gap schemes, allows me to understand what the front is doing. If something does leak out, I have the ability to know why it leaked out and where that can be cleaned up.

Defense is a puzzle. As ‘The General.’ I feel like I’m the big-picture guy who is going to see that whole puzzle, identify the missing links, and get that fixed so the picture looks right. When I say ‘cerebral,’ I’m this guy who is going to be on at all times during the game, think while he makes plays, and made football adjustments because that’s a huge part of the game. When I tapped the ball on the run [during a fumble recovery against UCLA], it’s because I was thinking while I was playing. 

GB: How did you earn the nickname ‘The General’ and when did it start?

VM: It started around 2020 because I was controlling everything back there. I’m always vocal and loud, directing people, and it kind of just started with my teammates and me. Then it just started to progress from there and after the Ohio State game it just blew up. 

GB: What’s next for you after the Senior Bowl between now and the NFL Combine?

VM: Back to Exos and Frisco, TX. Just working on my starts and on my 5-10-5, all of that. I’m also making sure I stay sharp because once I do get drafted, football’s right around the corner with rookie OTAs. So that, staying sharp and conditioned, that’s pretty much what I’ll be doing.

GB: Outside of football, how do you like to spend your time outside the game?

VM: I like to podcast a little bit. I want to be in media and broadcasting and be an analyst later on, so that’s why I did all the interviews at school. Just practice getting better each time.

GB: Is there someone in the media field that you might want to emulate?

VM: I would want to be a mixture of Tony Romo and Gus Johnson. Johnson has the excitement, everybody knows every time you watch a game, he’s going to make sure you’re dialed in. Romo’s ability to diagnose and dissect plays before they happen… I feel like that’s kind of how I play so I would be doing the same thing. I tweet a lot, especially during games, about what I saw and what could have been done.

GB: What would it be like to play with Justin Herbert again?

VM: I would love to play with Herb again. Of course, being at Oregon with him for those battles in practice, I think he’s somebody that makes you better because when you have good coverage in on-on-ones, you want to go against somebody where every ball is perfect. He’s a franchise quarterback and playing with him early on in college definitely helped my development.

Kayvon Thibodeaux leads six Ducks to be invited to the NFL combine

Six former Oregon football players have been invited to participate in the NFL combine event in Indianapolis March 1-7.

The Oregon Ducks football program has been through a lot over the course of the last two or three months, so a little bit of normalcy is welcomed.

It’s that time for the NFL combine and six Ducks have been invited to participate in the event that will be held in Indianapolis March 1-7. Led by defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, the Ducks have a nice group of offensive and defensive stars hoping to improve their draft stock.

Among those looking to show what he can do is running back CJ Verdell. The all-conference performer was most likely a second-round draft pick before he injured his knee. Now with the combine, Verdell can show scouts that he is fully recovered and able to help a team win immediately.

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 94 Verone McKinley III

Oregon S Verone McKinley III is next up in Packers Wire’s draft series, Unpacking Future Packers. We’ll count down 100 players the Packers could pick in the 2022 NFL draft.

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2022 NFL Draft.

The Green Bay Packers have cornerstone pieces in place on the defensive side of the ball. Kenny Clark, Jaire Alexander, and Rashan Gary are all 26 years old or younger. 

With those three pillars in place, Brian Gutekunst needs to continue to add supplemental pieces around them. 

Who will be the starting safeties for the Packers in 2023? Adrian Amos is set to be a free agent following the 2022 season. Is Darnell Savage Jr in Green Bay’s long-term plans after a disappointing 2021 season?

With those two players possibly on their way out in the near future, it’s a safe bet Gutekunst seeks to find a replacement for one or both of them in the upcoming draft.

A player that Gutekunst could target on day two of the 2022 NFL draft is Verone McKinley III. The Oregon safety checks in at No. 94 in the Unpacking Future Packers countdown.

The Ducks have a rich history of producing NFL defensive backs. T.J. Ward, Patrick Chung, Jevon Holland, Jairus Byrd, Alex Molden, and Chad Cota highlight that group. McKinley is the next in line.

In 2019, McKinley tied for the Pac-12 lead in interceptions (4) and added six pass deflections. In a shortened season, McKinley recorded one interception and three pass deflections in 2020.

McKinley was all over the field for the Ducks this past season. The former four-star recruit recorded 78 tackles, one tackle for loss, six interceptions, and 12 pass deflections. 

“Verone bestowed the nickname ‘The General’ on himself, and he earned it with his play on the field in 2021,” Rob Moseley, the editor for GoDucks.com said. “He was the leader of Oregon’s defense on the back end, both vocally and as a playmaker. 

He tied for the FBS lead on the season with those six interceptions and was second on our team – and second among Pac-12 defensive backs – with 77 tackles. Of the five ‘major’ college all-America teams, he was first-team on three and second-team on the other two, becoming one of just 10 consensus all-Americans in the history of the Oregon football program. He was also a finalist for the Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back. In short, he had one of the best seasons of any defensive back in the country, and one of the best seasons of any defensive back in UO football history.”

The first thing that jumps out about McKinley’s game is his ball production. He’s a ballhawk and certified playmaker.

McKinley recorded 11 interceptions and 21 pass deflections during his three-year career at Eugene.

McKinley has natural ball skills. The Oregon safety looks like a wide receiver at the catch point. If it’s in his zone he’s going to make a play on the ball.

What allows McKinley to make so many plays on the ball is his range and instincts. McKinley has a high football IQ and is a true student of the game. He shows great pattern recognition and does an excellent job of reading the quarterback’s eyes. McKinley has great burst and times it up perfectly to break up passes.

“Verone is close friends with Miami Dolphins rookie Jevon Holland, a fellow 2018 recruit at Oregon, and they have a similar knack for being ballhawk,” Moseley said. “That said, how they go about it is a little different. It seems to come easy for Jevon; he exudes a natural sense of anticipation and athleticism that allows him to be in the right place at the right time. This isn’t to suggest he doesn’t also do his homework. But with Verone, it’s all about his preparation. He’s so good at putting in the film study, learning tendencies, and then knowing within the flow of a game what to expect.”

In coverage, McKinley has a loose lower body and does a good job of maintaining leverage. He has the short-area quickness and footwork to be a candidate to play in the slot at the next level. 

When McKinley does get beat in coverage he’s like a goldfish. He has a five-second memory. After getting beat, it’s a safe bet that it won’t happen the rest of the game. Moseley said McKinley’s greatest strength is his ability to wipe the slate clean after giving up a play in coverage.

“Verone is just so poised, on and off the field,” Moseley said. “He wants to be an analyst in the media when he’s done playing, and he’s found the time to create a bunch of opportunities while at Oregon to get experience in that field. He’s able to do that while also juggling football and school because of his time management skills. 

Another sign of his maturity is how honest he is with himself about areas where he can grow. In his first college game, he was in coverage for the game-winning touchdown by Auburn in Oregon’s 2019 season opener. He took that in stride, learned from it, and made sure he was better prepared for future opportunities. We saw the results of that in the fall of 2021 as he earned all-America status.”

As a run defender, McKinley comes downhill in a flash. He’s willing to dish out punishment and it’s part of his game that continued to get better each season at Eugene.

“Where Verone was elite in 2021 was roving around the secondary, disrupting the passing game,” Moseley said. “That said, he’s not afraid to come up and throw his body around at the line of scrimmage.”

Fit with the Packers

McKinley’s presence would allow Joe Barry to deploy Savage at the Star position and allow McKinley to patrol the backend of Green Bay’s defense. 

In the long-term McKinley has the playmaking ability to be a potential pillar in Green Bay’s defense. In the short term, McKinley would allow Barry to be creative with how he utilizes Amos and Savage. He also has the special teams experience to be a hired gun on coverage units.

“He’s a guy you can depend on to handle his business day in and day out,” Moseley said. “When the opportunity presents itself he’s a proven playmaker as well.”

McKinley is a day two pick. With his ball skills, range, and instincts, McKinley projects as a difference-maker at the next level.  

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Oregon star safety Verone McKinley III declares for 2022 NFL draft

What a ride it was for Verone McKinley III in Eugene. He will forego his final year with the Ducks and enter the 2022 NFL draft.

One of the best players on the Oregon Ducks’ roster has officially declared for the 2022 NFL draft, with safety Verone McKinely III announcing his decision via social media on Sunday afternoon.

McKinley, who was nicknamed “The General” for his command over the Duck’s defense this past season, will finish his Oregon career with 100 total tackles and 10 interceptions, six of which came in his final year with the team.

McKinley led the nation in interceptions in 2021.

Heading into the draft, VM3 projects to have some pretty high value, especially after former Oregon safety Jevon Holland has made such a splash in his rookie season with the Miami Dolphins. We will keep an eye on his draft stock over the coming months, but it does not come as a surprise that Verone would capitalize on his stellar season with the Ducks and take his chance at the NFL.

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Kayvon Thibodeaux, Verone McKinley III named AP first team All-Americans

Kayvon Thibodeaux and Verone Kinley III become the seventh and eighth Ducks to be named AP First-Team All-Americans.

With all of Oregon football success, something like this doesn’t happen very often.

Kayvon Thibodeaux and Verone McKinley III became the seventh and eighth Oregon Duck football players in history to be named First-Team All-Americans by the Associated Press.

They also became the second pair of teammates to receive the honor in the same season. Marcus Mariota and Ifo Ekpre-Olomu were honored as such in 2014.

Both Thibodeaux and McKinley were named First-Team All-Pac-12 last week. Thibodeaux led the Ducks with seven sacks and McKinley led the conference with six interceptions.

Thibodeaux has already announced that he will not be participating in the Alamo Bowl and is expected to be an early first-round NFL draft pick. So far, McKinley has not stated his plans for the bowl game and he’s good to go to play against Oklahoma for now.