Verone McKinley III

Verone McKinley III's Biography

Verone McKinley III, born on June 29, 2000, is a talented American professional football safety player currently positioned as a free agent. McKinley’s journey began in Carrollton, Texas, where he was a student at Hebron High School. His commitment to the sport and exceptional skills at an early age secured him a spot to play college football at the esteemed University of Oregon.

As a true freshman at Oregon in 2018, McKinley saw action in three games before taking a redshirt. However, his dedication and commitment to the sport never wavered. As a redshirt freshman in 2019, he showcased impressive performance in 11 out of 14 games, amassing 46 tackles and four interceptions.

The following year in 2020, McKinley continued to shine by starting in six out of seven games, demonstrating his resiliency and exceptional skills on the field. He recorded capacity performance with 46 tackles and one interception.

His consistency awarded him extraordinary accomplishments in the 2021 season at Oregon. As a junior, he earned esteemed accolades including first-team consensus All-American and first-team All-Pac-12 Conference honors. He started each of the 14 games that season, recording 78 tackles (44 solo), six interceptions, 12 passes defensed, and one forced fumble. Throughout McKinley’s collegiate career, he gathered 11 interceptions in 38 games, certification of his strategic and agile attributes on the field.

The 2019-2021 seasons were pinnacle periods of McKinley’s college football career. He successfully secured his position as a three-year starter. His prowess in football earned him a spot as a finalist for the distinguished Jim Thorpe Award.

Upon entering the professional sphere, McKinley signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2022. An unfortunate turn of events led to his waiver on August 30, 2022, and he was reassigned to the practice squad. Determined to make a comeback, McKinley was promoted to the active roster on November 12, and made his mark by recording his first career interception on November 27 in a decisive 30-15 win against the Houston Texans.

However, the fluctuating course of events yet again saw McKinley waived by the Dolphins on September 16, 2023, and reassigned to the practice squad. He was released on December 6.

Bringing in the New Year with fresh opportunities, McKinley was signed to the Arizona Cardinals practice squad on January 3, 2024. Yet, despite all efforts, McKinley’s journey with the Cardinals was cut short when he was waived on August 26.

Verone McKinley III’s football career is a testament to his resilience, talent, and dedication. Regardless of the turbulent times he has faced, he has remained a formidable force in the field, consistently seeking to improve himself while leaving a lasting mark in the world of football.