Recruiting Wrap

McKinney hearing from MAC, Big Ten

Posted by: Jeremy Werner

Thursday, July 2, 2009 8:35 AM

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When choosing a college football program, LaSteven McKinney has options. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound LaGrange Park (Ill.) Nazareth Academy senior has scholarship offers from four schools (Eastern Michigan, Eastern Illinois, Central Michigan and Toledo) and could play one of two positions at the next level.

McKinney rushed for 1,436 yards and 22 touchdowns as a junior and could play running back and possibly a slot position in the Mid-American Conference. But Big Ten schools have also shown interest in McKinney as a defensive back, seeing his speed and quickness.

"Right now I'm still getting some heavy interest from the Big Ten, but a lot of interest is coming from the MAC too," McKinney said. "A lot of the schools from the MAC have come in and given me a lot of love. I've been getting looks from Toledo, Central Michigan, Purdue, Iowa and Illinois."

McKinney said he'd rather play running back at the next level but that if a Big Ten school offers, he would have a tough decision to make.

"A Big Ten school is a Big Ten school," McKinney said. "They play in front of a lot of people. They get a lot of exposure. At a MAC school, they don't get as much exposure but they get exposure. They play some Big Ten schools and that would give me a chance to play. That's a hard decision. I'd have to sit down and think about that one."

The Nazareth standout has visited several campuses this summer, including Central Michigan, Purdue and Iowa. He plans on visiting Louisville and Michigan State this month.

McKinney said he "really" likes Central Michigan because of its family atmosphere. He said Purdue has a "good environment" and that he is hoping for an Iowa offer soon after good feedback from the coaches after camping.

"As far as favorites, everything is still up in the air," McKinney said. "A few schools have been showing more interest, so I'm a lot more comfortable with their coaching staffs because I talk to them more, but everything is up in the air."

McKinney traveled to Champaign on June 6 for the Nike Football Training Camp at Memorial Field where he met up with some Illinois recruits.

"I saw Kyle (Prater) up there," McKinney said. "I saw Corey (Cooper) up there. I saw a lot of my old opponents I used to play in the Pop Warner. Illinois has really nice facilities up there. It's really nice. It's probably one of the best Big Ten facilities I've seen. They have a good weight room, a good indoor (facility), a good stadium.

"I haven't talked to the Illinois coaches in a while, but the last time I talked to them they said they'd like to get me up there as a defensive back and work out with their defensive backs. They want to see if they can get me in some passing drills. I'll probably call Coach Disch sometime in July. I'm definitely going to try and get in contact with him sometime soon."

McKinney said he'd like to make a decision during the first couple of weeks of the high school season or possibly before. But he may wait longer if Big Ten schools show more interest.

"I think they just want to see some '09 game tape," McKinney said. "I think that's what it's going to come down to, seeing me my senior year before they would offer me. There's nothing wrong with that at all. I have a feeling I'm going to do pretty well. We have a pretty good team. Hopefully, everything falls into place."

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