Making the leap from the college game to the NFL is never easy, but it becomes less difficult when you have some a former teammate to rely on.
That was exactly the case for undrafted safety Verone McKinley, who the Dolphins signed last offseason. McKinley spent his collegiate career with the Oregon Ducks, and he shared that defensive backfield with Jevon Holland.
Now both in the NFL, the safeties were once again backfield mates, and McKinley even got some extra opportunities when Brandon Jones went down with a torn ACL.
The two have continued their close bond from Oregon while in South Florida.
“We don’t live that close to each other — 15, 20 minutes, apart,” McKinley told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. “But he lived with me when he was renovating his house. We’re here [at Dolphins headquarters at Hard Rock Stadium] all the time together and do stuff outside the facility. It’s been a blast.
“Just from the jump when you have kind of your best friend and somebody you’ve spent a lot of time with, it makes it a little easier. Just understanding Miami, how the NFL works, our system, has definitely been a big help.”
McKinley said he has watched a lot of tape with Holland outside of team meetings.
“After games, even throughout the week, early on when I wasn’t playing, I was still watching film so I could learn what we’re doing. We’re together all the time.”
There are few players on this defense who would be better to learn from than Holland, who has become a rising star in just two seasons in Miami Gardens. McKinley’s performance as an undrafted rookie may have earned him an active roster spot in 2023 rather than a practice squad spot.
If he keeps learning from his good friend, there’s a chance he could do even more.
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