With the 36th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the New York Giants selected Alabama safety Xavier McKinney. Here are five things to know about the newest member of Big Blue:
1. ALABAMA CAREER OVERVIEW
A first-team All-SEC selection, McKinney led Alabama's defense with 95 tackles in 2019, including 5.5 for loss (-40 yards) and three sacks (-21 yards). He led the SEC with four forced fumbles, tied for second-most in Alabama history. He added three interceptions to go with five pass breakups and five quarterback hurries as a junior. He returned one of his interceptions for an 81-yard touchdown.
He earned a starting role as a sophomore the year before and burst onto the scene with 73 tackles, six for loss, three sacks, two interceptions and 10 pass breakups in 15 starts. He was named the Defensive MVP of the Orange Bowl against Oklahoma to help send Alabama to the national title game. In all, he played in 41 career games with 28 starts, recording 176 tackles (13 TFL), six sacks, five forced fumbles, 20 pass breakups, and five interceptions.
2. HONORS & AWARDS
- Second-team All-American (2019)
- First-team All-SEC (2019)
- Semifinalist for the 2019 Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation's top defensive back
- Orange Bowl Defensive MVP (2018)
- 2018 College Football Playoff National Champion
3. NFL SCOUTING COMBINE RESULTS & MEASUREMENTS
- Height: 6'0"
- Weight: 201 lbs.
- Arms: 30 7/8"
- Hands: 8 5/8"
- 40-yard dash: 4.63 sec.
- Bench press: 19 reps
- Vertical jump: 36"
- Broad jump: 122"
View photos of former Alabama S Xavier McKinney.
Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Marvin Gentry)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Louisiana-Lafayette quarterback Andre Nunez (7) is sacked by Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) and linebacker Dylan Moses (32) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) stands next to the MVP trophy for the defensive player of the game during the Orange Bowl NCAA college football game, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Alabama defeated Oklahoma 45-34. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Tennessee wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) fumbles the ball as he's hit by Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Xavier McKinney (15) of the Alabama Crimson Tide in action during the College Football Playoff Semifinal game at the Capital One Orange Bowl on December 29, 2018 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida (Tom DiPace via AP)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) is congratulated by teammates after returning an interception 30 yards for a touchdown during the second half of their NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Oxford, Miss. Alabama won 62-7.(AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) struts into the end zone after returning an interception 30-yards for a touchdown during the second half of their NCAA college football game against Mississippi, on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Oxford, Miss. Alabama won 62-7.(AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) signals during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Southern Miss, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Alabama defensive backs Xavier McKinney (15) and Jared Mayden (21) hug after the team's 35-13 win over Tennessee in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Alabama defensive backs Xavier McKinney (15) and Jared Mayden (21) drag down Tennessee wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) attempts to throw to a receiver as he is sacked by Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) waves off a coverage during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Texas A&M Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) attempts to throw to a receiver as he is pressured by Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Marvin Gentry)
Clemson's Travis Etienne is stopped by Alabama's Xavier McKinney and Mack Wilson during the first half the NCAA college football playoff championship game, Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Southern Miss, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Alabama's Xavier McKinney signals a paly during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019 in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 1, 2020, in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) fumbles the ball as he's hit by Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney (15) in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 1, 2020, in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 1, 2020, in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
A detail view of Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney's New Era jersey during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 1, 2020, in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 1, 2020, in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AJ Mast via AP Images)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney poses for a portrait during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
4. HIGH SCHOOL & PERSONAL
An elite defensive back prospect and one of the top players in Georgia ... a unanimous four-star prospect who was tabbed a top-10 safety nationally by all major recruiting outlets ... participated in the Under Armour All-America Game and Nike's 2016 "The Opening" ... ranked No. 40 in the Rivals100, the No. 3 safety and No. 5 player in the state of Georgia ... the No. 54 player overall, sixth-best safety prospect and No. 6 overall in the state by 247Sports ... the 247Composite ranked him No. 58 overall, the No. 6 safety nationally and No. 8 player in Georgia ... No. 87 in the ESPN300, No. 9 safety, No. 10 player in Georgia and No. 41 overall in the Southeast region according to ESPN ... member of the PrepStar Top 150 Dream Team as the No. 81 player overall ... No. 113 in the Scout300, the No. 11 safety nationally and No. 3 safety in Georgia ... named the 2016 Georgia Class 7A Defensive Player of the Year by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution ... recorded 82 tackles, seven interceptions, nine pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries as a senior in 2016 ... finished his junior season with 111 tackles, including four for a loss and two sacks, 13 pass breakups and nine interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns ... coached by John Ford at Roswell High School ... chose Alabama over Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia and Ohio State.
5. NFL.COM SCOUTING REPORT
- Known for high football IQ and field toughness
- Versatility to match up with every personnel grouping
- Plus burst with impressive change of direction in space
- Smooth backpedal with agile feet and fluid hips to weave with quarterback
- Adequate ball-tracking and poise when the ball goes up
- Speed for foot race over the top in Cover 1
- Intent on deciphering the quarterback's eyes
- Anticipates and cuts under breaks looking for takeaways
- Recognizes route combinations and adjusts coverage accordingly
- Has instant burst to close and strikes with intent
- Uses length to clamp and roll as tackle finisher
- Takes smart angles into alley to clean up spillage
- Above-average blitz talent from mugged-up A-gap or off the slot
- NFL Comparison: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
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