Oregon Ducks lose key contributor against Utah

The Oregon Ducks took to the field Saturday with hopes of keeping their top-four standing in the College Football Playoff hopes alive — but now, as Oregon trails by 28 at halftime, it will have to mount a humongous comeback without a key contributor in Verone McKinley III.

McKinley, a sophomore safety for Oregon, went to the locker room early in Saturday’s game, making the trip before the rest of the team followed at halftime. He had left the game after an apparent arm injury, though the severity — as well as his status for the remainder of the game against Utah — remain unclear. McKinley left the field holding his arm; trainers attended to his arm, and when he left the field for the locker room, the trainers left with him, holding his arm.

McKinley had three total tackles (one solo stop) and one pass breakup before his departure for the game, and Oregon is in trouble heading into the second half at Rice–Eccles Stadium, as the Utes lead 28-0.

Entering Saturday’s contest, McKinley was one of the most consistent contributors to Oregon’s offense, notching 58 total tackles on the season (34 solo stops). A frequent disruptor in pass coverage, McKinley added four pass breakups to his total, as well as one forced fumble and five interceptions.

Last season, McKinley made six starts in the COVID-19-shortened season, playing in all seven. He finished third on the team with 41 total tackles (21 solo stops) as well as an interception, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and two pass breakups. His best performance prior to 2021, however, came in his redshirt freshman year in 2019. He was excellent that season, tallying 46 total tackles (29 solo stops), two passes defended, four interceptions and 84 pickoff-return yards to go along with the tally. McKinley’s performance that season was enough for him to win freshman All-America honors, as well as a one-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honor.

McKinley, a member of Oregon’s 2018 recruiting class, was a four-star recruit coming out of Carrollton, Texas, and was one of the top defenders of the Ducks’ class. He ranked as the 46th overall cornerback by the On3 Consensus, and he made an impact as soon as his second year on campus, after redshirting his true freshman season.