Kenny McKinley (January 31, 1987 – September 20, 2010) was an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Broncos in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft . He played college football at South Carolina .
Early years
McKinley was born in Baker, Louisiana . He graduated from South Cobb High School in Austell, Georgia in 2005 as a multi-position player, but he primarily played quarterback. During his senior year, he passed for 1,470 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed for 750 yards while scoring 12 touchdowns . He was rated the 29th-best athlete in the state of Georgia and the 54th-best athlete in the country by Rivals.com.
Collegiate career
As a true freshman in 2005, he worked his way into the starting lineup at wide receiver and also handled the punt return duties . He started six games and ranked third on the team with 25 catches for 291 yards and returned 18 punts for 83 yards.
During his sophomore year in 2006, McKinley started all 13 games and recorded 51 receptions and 880 yards, which ranked second on the team behind Sidney Rice . McKinley's best game was an eight-catch, 110-yard effort against Auburn, the first 100-yard receiving day in his career.
Before the start of McKinley's junior year in 2007, Rice decided to forgo the remainder of his college eligibility to enter the 2007 NFL Draft . This made McKinley's the Gamecocks' top returning wide receiver in 2007.
He would go on to earn first-team honors from: the SEC coaches (All-SEC), the Associated Press and CollegeFootballNews.com. He was second-team All-SEC by Rivals.com and honorable mention All-America honors from CollegeFootballNews.com.
Despite playing with turf toe most of the year, as the Gamecocks' #1 receiver, McKinley not only led the team but led the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in receptions (a school-record 77), receptions per game (6.42) and in receiving yards per game (80.7). He also was number one at South Carolina in yards (968) and touchdowns (9). He had four 100-yard receiving games in 2007 , including a school record 14 catch performance against Tennessee where he had a career-best 151 yards.
In 2008, McKinley entered his senior year as an All-America candidate that was in position to break every South Carolina school career receiving records. He began the 2008 campaign ranked tied for fourth in career receptions (153), sixth in career receiving yards (2,139) and tied for sixth in receiving touchdowns (15) in Carolina history. Despite being out of the lineup for a three-game stretch due to a right hamstring strain, he set school career records for receptions and receiving yards, while also closing out his career second on the school's all-time touchdown catches list. McKinley also placed his name in the SEC) record books. His 207 receptions placed third in conference annals, becoming just the fifth SEC player to amass more than 200 catches in a career. He also became the 12th player in league history to record more than 2,700 receiving yards (2,781).
Professional career
Denver Broncos
McKinley was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round, 5th pick (141st overall) during the 2009 NFL Draft . McKinley played in eight games in 2009 as a kick returner. He returned seven kicks for a total of 158 yards. He also recorded 3 special teams tackles.
He was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury on December 28, 2009.
Death
McKinley was found dead on September 20, 2010, from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. His death was reported as a suicide by local media, and later confirmed by members of the Arapahoe County Sheriff's office. He was found in the second floor master bedroom of his home.
References
- ^ a b http://www.kdvr.com/news/kdvr-broncos-mckinley-death-txt,0,3972716.story
- ^ a b Stapleton, Arnie, (Associated Press ), "Sheriff: Broncos WR Kenny McKinley found dead " Yahoo! News , 21 September 2010.
- ^ "Sheriff: Broncos WR Kenny McKinley Found Dead" . Associated Press . September 20, 2010. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130006111 . Retrieved 2010-09-20.
External links
- Denver Broncos bio
- South Carolina Gamecocks bio
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the associated press sheriff broncos wr kenny mckinley found dead
By ARNIE STAPLETON – 1 hour ago. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos wide receiver Kenny McKinley was found dead in his apartment Monday in an apparent suicide. Read the rest
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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos wide receiver Kenny McKinley was found dead in his apartment Monday in an apparent suicide. Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Read the rest
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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Arapahoe County Sheriff says Denver Broncos wide receiver Kenny McKinley was found dead in his home in an apparent suicide. Sheriff Grayson Read the rest
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The Arapahoe County Sheriff says Denver Broncos wide receiver Kenny McKinley has been found dead in his home. Sheriff Grayson Robinson says detectives are investigating the death. Read the rest
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Denver Broncos wide receiver Kenny McKinley died on Monday. He was 23. The Arapahoe County sheriff's office confirmed the death. The team announced it was "deeply saddened Read the rest
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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Denver Broncos wide receiver Kenny McKinley was found dead in his home Monday, authorities said. Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson said authorities Read the rest
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Josina Anderson of FOX 31 in Denver reports that Broncos receiver Kenny McKinley has been found dead, apparently due to a suicide. The 23-year-old McKinley, a fifth-round pick Read the rest
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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Arapahoe County Sheriff says Denver Broncos wide receiver Kenny McKinley has been found dead in his home. Sheriff Grayson Robinson says Read the rest
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Kenny McKinley (born January 31, 1987, in Mableton, Georgia) is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. Read the rest
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McKinley is the third Bronco to pass away suddenly in the past four years. CB Darrent Williams was killed in a drive-by shooting, and RB Damien Nash collapsed suddenly at a Read the rest