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Verone McKinley III on future with Oregon: "right now the focus is the bowl game"

Jarrid Denneyby:Jarrid Denney•12/17/21•

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Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Oregon safety Verone McKinley III is one of a handful of Duck players who will have to decide on his future after Oregon’s Dec. 29 Alamo Bowl matchup.

McKinley III was a consensus All-American this season and has been the heart and soul of Oregon’s defense. His stock is sky-high after a stellar junior campaign, and he will be coveted by NFL teams if he elects to enter the NFL Draft.

While meeting with reporters Friday, McKinley III was asked what his future holds, and if he plans to return to Eugene for his senior season.

“I’ve thought about it,” McKinley III said. “But right now the focus is the bowl game. The rest will handle itself when the time comes.”

It’s unclear at this point where McKinley III might land on respective NFL Draft boards after the season. A recent Sports Illustrated mock draft had him as a projected top-100 pick.

McKinley III leads the nation with six interceptions and has racked up 71 tackles and one forced fumble this season. He was a Thorpe Award finalist and recently became the 10th consensus All-American in program history.

On Friday, Mckinley III was also asked about his early thoughts on Oregon’s newly-hired head coach, Dan Lanning.

“It’s good. (Oregon) made the hire and it’s a great hire,” McKinley III said. “I talked to coach Lanning and it was a good, productive week. … I was familiar with him. Of course, Georgia’s defense is a phenomenal defense, one of the best in college football.

“He’s young — high-energy. Someone who will be here for a long time. I definitely think he’s somebody who cares and wants to earn everything here. He knows it’s not going to be given to him. He likes that and embraces that, and I thought that was really positive.”

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