DOMINICK MCKINLEY

7 TACKLES

7 QB PRESSURES

6 STOPS

3 TFLs

3 SACKS

1 FUMBLE RECOVERY

Despite his youth & inexperience, it isn't a stretch to suggest Dominick McKinley stood out as LSU's most athletically gifted defensive tackle this past fall....

Appearing in over 10 games, all as a substitute & for a meager 146 snaps, the defensive line mammoth that is Dominick McKinley still made his presence known, dealing 7 QB pressures, 6 stops from 7 overall tackles (forcing no gain plays), 3 tackles for loss, recovering a fumble, and recording an impressive trio of sacks from the interior (headlined by 2 sacks vs Oklahoma, plus another against UCLA).

Injured for the first 3 games due to a persistent case of turf toe, McKinley was eased into the season, Head Coach Brian Kelly and his training staff erring on the side of caution with their future star DT as veterans Jacobian Guillory, Gio Paez, and Jay'viar Suggs performed above expectations for the first game vs USC.

But once Guillory suffered a torn Achilles in week 2, McKinley's availability became paramount, offering the Tigers a ferocious, physically dominant, high pedigree defensive tackle option.....albeit a freshman.

Next to 2024 freshman classmate Ahmad Breaux, these two Tiger freshmen gave former DL Coach Bo Davis solid backup options in a year where defensive tackle remained one of the team's thinnest position groups....a fact that was even more pronounced during LSU's 3 game losing streak vs A&M, Alabama & Florida's dual threat or traditional ground attacks.

On many of their limited snaps, McKinley & Breaux were split alongside a slap dash collection of transfer portal veterans figuring it out each rep.....

Both McKinley & Breaux were thrown into the SEC fire, but made it out unscathed and much wiser & tougher for the experience.

In 2024, McKinley popped on the eye test & produced plays over the course of a minimal snap count, blessed with an elite motor, fantastic battling hands, swift feet, and a nice finishing touch in the backfield that glittered off the film.

The Louisiana native DT is an exhilarating prospect for 2025 & beyond......hanging in there & showing out when he had the opportunities throughout a developmental 2024 freshman campaign.

Now, entering Year II, McKinley isn't one of the Tigers on the fringe....he is viewed as a young leader of new DL Coach Kyle Williams' room, with much expected from the elite sophomore, gaining experience & knowledge during each 1st or 2nd team rep of 2025 Spring practices.

Although LSU still possess another key young DT in Ahmad Breaux, also signed former Texas DT Sydir Mitchell out of the portal, recruited freshman sensation Zion Williams, while veteran senior Jacobian Guillory is ahead of schedule with his rehab from a torn achilles, McKinley is a proven commodity at LSU, a violent, urgent defensive tackle who makes a lot happen in limited snaps, a Tiger who should only continue to improve over the next 2-3 years wearing purple & gold.

For that reason, the elite sophomore remains one of the current odds-on favorites to start inside for LSU Legend Kyle Williams' defensive line when the Tigers take on Clemson in Week 1.

However, as he's proven over his lone season at LSU, "Dominant" McKinley doesn't need 40+ snaps per game to dominate. In fact, less can be more on the defensive line.

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Blake Baker's 2025 defensive set up should suit McKinley's fast & furious penetrative attributes perfectly, aiming for a strong rotation of 4-5 DTs throughout a typically brutal SEC schedule; Keeping McKinley fresh & active, rotating in & out with prime matchups against weakened guards or centers, should make his bursts of interior mayhem even more impactful.

By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

DOMINICK MCKINLEY 2025 PROFILE

DOMINICK MCKINLEY

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