Senior Bowl Tabs McKinney Among Nation’s Top Prospects
August 20, 2025 | Football
BOULDER – Colorado redshirt junior defensive back DJ McKinney has been named to the 2026 Senior Bowl Watch List, the organization announced Wednesday.
McKinney had a standout sophomore campaign, recording 62 tackles, including 44 solo stops, nine pass breakups, three interceptions, three tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 13 starts. He logged a team-high 840 defensive snaps and ranked fourth in the Big 12 in both pass deflections and passes defended.
He closed the season strong with three interceptions in the final four games, including his first career pick-six against Oklahoma State.
The Senior Bowl staff, which includes former NFL scouts, evaluated more than 2,000 prospects from all levels of college football before narrowing the list to 300 players.
"At the Senior Bowl, we take great pride in identifying and showcasing the 'Best of the Best,'" the organization stated. "The results speak for themselves: 50 percent of the players selected in the top three rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft were Senior Bowl participants."
This year's watch list is more selective than in the past, shrinking from more than 850 players last season to 300. McKinney is one of 43 players from the Big 12 recognized.
In total, 86 institutions are represented.
The Panini Senior Bowl will be played Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. MT at South Alabama's Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Ala.
About the Senior Bowl
The Panini Senior Bowl is widely regarded as the preeminent college football all-star game and the first stage in the NFL Draft process. The longest continuously running all-star game has been held in Mobile, Ala., for the past 76 years. More than 900 NFL personnel, including key decision-makers from all 32 teams, attend the event annually.
McKinney had a standout sophomore campaign, recording 62 tackles, including 44 solo stops, nine pass breakups, three interceptions, three tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 13 starts. He logged a team-high 840 defensive snaps and ranked fourth in the Big 12 in both pass deflections and passes defended.
He closed the season strong with three interceptions in the final four games, including his first career pick-six against Oklahoma State.
The Senior Bowl staff, which includes former NFL scouts, evaluated more than 2,000 prospects from all levels of college football before narrowing the list to 300 players.
"At the Senior Bowl, we take great pride in identifying and showcasing the 'Best of the Best,'" the organization stated. "The results speak for themselves: 50 percent of the players selected in the top three rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft were Senior Bowl participants."
This year's watch list is more selective than in the past, shrinking from more than 850 players last season to 300. McKinney is one of 43 players from the Big 12 recognized.
In total, 86 institutions are represented.
The Panini Senior Bowl will be played Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. MT at South Alabama's Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Ala.
About the Senior Bowl
The Panini Senior Bowl is widely regarded as the preeminent college football all-star game and the first stage in the NFL Draft process. The longest continuously running all-star game has been held in Mobile, Ala., for the past 76 years. More than 900 NFL personnel, including key decision-makers from all 32 teams, attend the event annually.
Players Mentioned
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