By: Steve Johnson

Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama

6’0 3/8″ 201 lbs

30 7/8″ arms. 8 5/8″ hands. 75 4/8″ wingspan.

Junior

D.O.B. 8/8/98

4.63 40 36″ Vert. 122″ Broad Jump. 19 Bench Reps.

DNP 3 Cone Drill DNP 20 yard Shuttle 

Stats/Accolades/History:

2017: 14 games. 6 tackles, 1.5 TFL

2018: 15 games. 74 tackles, 6 TFL, 3 sacks, 2 int for 23 yards, 1 TD, 10 pass break ups, 2 FF

2019: 13 games. 95 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 3 ints for 78 yards, 1 TD, 5 pass break ups, 4 FF, 1 FR

Misc. Stats:

Accolades: 2019 First-Team All-SEC

Injuries:

History: Four-star recruit from Roswell, GA. As a Senior, was named the 2016 Georgia Class 7A Defensive Player of the Year, by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Participated in the Under Armour All-America Game, as well as Nike’s 2016 “The Opening”.

Strengths: Good size. Versatility to play anywhere in the secondary. Fluid hips to match up in the slot. Physicality throughout the route to match up vs big WRs/TEs. Plays bigger than he is. Great pursuit and when he connects he’s a heat seeking missile (6 FF last 2 years). Good anticipation when the play is in front of him.

Weaknesses: Lacks elite range and ball skills you want from a safety. Not as comfortable/consistent as a deep safety, as he is playing underneath. Over-pursues at times, needs to do a better job breaking down and wrapping up. Can be outmanned in contested catch situations vs length. Will bite on play action and underneath routes when playing deep safety.

Overview: McKinney is a versatile athlete, that has to have different teams debating how to use him best. Although he’s not as big as typical box safeties, he brings toughness and attitude to match up vs TEs and help in the run game. He also has the hips to cover WRs and play in cover 2. I think he’s destined to play a modern day hybrid safety slot role, similar to the opinion I had on Chauncey Gardner-Johnson in 2019.

Evaluation based on games. Ole Miss 18′, Auburn 19′, Alabama 19′

Draft Projection: 1st Round

Phanaddict Draft Grade: 6.28

How we grade