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Notre Dame is no stranger when looking to the portal to add talent in the defensive backfield. In previous seasons, we've seen players like Nick McCloud, Thomas Harper, Rod Heard, Jordan Clark and DeVonta Smith play their final year of eligibility with the Fighting Irish. This season, Notre Dame looked to the portal to bring in reinforcements at the cornerback position with the highlighted player being DJ McKinney from Colorado. The two-year starter for the Buffaloes is also looking to play his final year of eligibility with the Irish and looks to compliment the nations No. 1 cornerback. 

Here is our 2026 preview and profile for McKinney: 

DJ MCKINNEY PROFILE

Class/Eligibility: Graduate/Senior
Height/Weight: 6-1, 185
Hometown/High School: Colleyville, Texas/Colleyville Heritage 

CAREER STATS

2025 (Colorado): 34 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 4 break ups, 1 INT
2024 (Colorado): 61 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 1 FF, 7 break ups, 3 INT 
2023 (Oklahoma State): 38 tackles, 5 break ups
2022 (Oklahoma State): 2 tackles

CAREER: 135 tackles, 4.0 TFL, 1 FF, 16 break ups, 4 INT

2025 SEASON IN REVIEW 

The 6-1, 185-pound Texas native started nine games for Colorado last season and played a grand total of 597 snaps after starting all 13 games for the Buffaloes in 2024. The now fifth year senior recorded 34 total tackles, five passes defensed and one interceptions last fall after going against some pretty good competition. Last season, Colorado faced Georgia Tech, Houston on the road, BYU, TCU, Iowa State, Utah and Arizona who all had pretty good to potent offenses in the Big 12.

McKinney was targeted 32 times, only allowed 18 receptions but gave up two touchdowns. He has experience playing alongside a start defensive back during his time in 2024 with Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. Now, he'll have the opportunity to play opposite of Notre Dame Unanimous All-American Leonard Moore who is the nation's top returning defender according to ESPN. After battling injuries for much of the 2025 season, his sights are now set in finishing off his collegiate career on a high note with the Fighting Irish secondary. 

FALL CAMP PREVIEW

Fall camp will be our first opportunity to see the 6-1, 185-pound Colleyville, Texas native. He was a summer arrival and his much-anticipated Notre Dame debut will happen tomorrow when fall camp kicks off. His commitment to the Irish back in January was somewhat of a surprise, but after diving into the film, it was clear why former Notre Dame defensive backs coach Mike Mickens was so high on him. At the time, McKinney was told that nothing would be handed to him, and he'd have to work for his spot given the makeup of Notre Dame's cornerback room. Fall camp is where that journey starts for the fifth year senior.  

2026 EXPECTATIONS

As of today, the expectation is that McKinney steps into the starting role at field corner after two-year starter Christian Gray slid inside to Nickel. He'll have his work cut out for him with sophomore Dallas Golden and Michigan transfer Jayden Sanders looking to make a push. But McKinney has the tools to be an outstanding field corner for the Irish in 2026. He has three total years of starting experience between his time with Oklahoma State in 2022-2023 and his time with Colorado from 2024-2025. We have a solid sample size of how he performs against top-level opponents. Ideally, McKinney is able to return to his 2024 form and remain healthy. 

I fully expect McKinney to compete for the starting field corner position. With Golden coming off a back injury in spring training and Gray's move to the inside, McKinney is the odds end favorite to win the position, but it will have to be earned. This would give Notre Dame two long, rangy and athletic corners on the outside with Moore starting in the boundary. McKinney will be a factor on Notre Dame's defense this fall. The question is, how big of a factor will he be? I expect that to get answered rather quickly. 

A GOOD SEASON FOR MCKINNEY WOULD BE ….

One where he cements himself as the clear cut No. 1 field corner and repeats his 2024 success. That season, starting opposite of Hunter, the Texas native recorded 61 total tackles, eight passes defensed, one forced fumble and three interceptions. McKinney was targeted 71 times in 2024 and allowed 37 receptions but only 166 yards after the catch. If he's able to repeat that production, Notre Dame will be home to one of the best outside corner duos in all of college football. He's received some first-round NFL draft projections; having a season like that would propel him up draft boards. Rounding out Notre Dame's secondary would be a great season for McKinney. 

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