McKinney Drops A Favorite

by TigerNet Staff - Sun Dec 19 22:28:23 GMT-04:00 2004

James McKinney - Defensive Line
Height: 6-4 Weight: 275 Hometown: Louisville, KY (Central HS) Class: 2005

ESPN: NR

James McKinney is one of the nation's premier defensive linemen. McKinney was ready to commit this weekend, but had a series of unfortunate events at Louisville.

"My Louisville visit did not go well. They sent me home after Friday. There was some players that came to the coaches, and said that I was bad mouthing the program, telling them I was going to Michigan. I haven't even told my mom where I am going. If I was going to Michigan, then I would have already committed. That was not the case at all. I have never said anything bad about any of these schools."

McKinney had been leaning to Louisville, but now is no longer considering the Cardinals.

"I was going to commit to them this weekend. I was just going up there for a visit to make sure everything was right. I am glad I went now. I guess I needed to know that is how they are. My recruiter should have known better. They should known that is not like my character to do something like that, but I guess they believed the other guys. They had always told me, I was their number one prospect. I guess they didn't think that highly of me."

Now that Louisville is out of the picture, McKinney will decide between Clemson, Michigan, and Nebraska.

"I don't have a favorite anymore. I will look at Clemson, Michigan, and Nebraska. I have been on official visits to all three. Oklahoma is talking to me about taking my fifth official visit there. I am not sure what I will do right now."

On his official visit to Clemson, McKinney was hosted by fellow Kentucky native Justin Miller.

"Justin is real cool guy. He is like a celebrity down there. It was a good experience to be around him. He is from Kentucky also, he was signing a bunch of autographs at the basketball game. In Kentucky, football players don’t get recognized. That was the only thing I told players at Louisville. I said Kentucky was a basketball state, and football players really don't get the recognition they deserve in Kentucky."

"I am supposed to call Justin (Miller) tonight. He was up here for his sister graduation from Louisville. We will probably go out and do something tonight."

Ron West is recruiting McKinney for Clemson, and has made a big impression during a couple of in-home visits.

"My Mom likes Coach West the best of all the recruiters. She was on the phone with Coach West, when I got home from Louisville yesterday morning. I know he is going to come back up here again with some other coaches."

We will continue to follow McKinney closely. McKinney expects his recruitment to pick up even more following the U.S. Army All American game.