Windy City Gridiron
WCG’s lead draft analyst speaks with one of the most intriguing FCS defensive backs in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Northwest Missouri State cornerback Austin McKinney has all the tools needed to play at the NFL level.
Offering high-end speed, size and length for his position, McKinney hopes to parlay a strong collegiate career and a sneaky good pre-draft process into an opportunity playing pro ball at the highest level.
Windy City Gridiron spoke with McKinney about earning an invitation to the Tropical Bowl after a strong FCS Bowl outing, his athleticism for his size, his approach to physical fitness and more.
AM: Man, the experience was great. First and foremost, I was just feeling extremely grateful to be around all of those caliber of guys, and being able to compete, and being able to be in front of the amount of NFL scouts that were there for the very first time. The experience was great. I felt like it was like perfect for a person like me that was trying to get his name out there and competitive as I am, I saw the whole thing as the greatest opportunity that I have to showcase my abilities and put my skills out in front of the people who will be able to give me the ultimate opportunity to be in the NFL.
AM: I just learned that there’s a lot of great players out there, and it was kind of refreshing to be around a lot of mighty individuals that were striving for same thing as I am and come from similar backgrounds. Everybody was there to compete. It was very good. I liked that a lot.
AM: Oh, wow. So I spent a short time at — well, it seemed like a short time — I was at Northwest Missouri State for about two years. I feel like my favorite moment was probably one of the first days being there, man. All of those guys welcomed me with open arms. Northwest Missouri State is a place built off tradition; you have to earn your keep. Being there for those first initial days and going through the ringer, because if anybody’s been to Northwest, they know that the strength and conditioning program ran by Joe Quinlan is nothing to be played about. It takes some adjusting to get through. But I’d say my favorite memory was just going through them hard times and trying to get adjusted to that with my new teammates at that time, but brothers now, and them welcoming me with open arms.
