LSU football 5-star defensive tackle emerging at fall camp

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LSU football coach Lane Kiffin had positive words to say about a talented defensive tackle. According to Kiffin, junior Dominick McKinley has stepped it up as LSU progresses into fall camp. After an inconsistent spring, McKinley responded.

"Dom's had a really good camp, really kind of challenged him. I'll tell you what I told him. Didn't really have a good spring in my opinion of what he should for his size and his ability and really has stepped up, especially in the last probably week and a half and it's been great to see. He's run with our ones and done a really good job," Kiffin said.

McKinley joined LSU as a five-star recruit in 2024. The Louisiana native was among the best defensive linemen in his class. He played 146 defensive snaps as a true freshman before taking on a bigger role as a sophomore.

McKinley chose to stay at LSU through the coaching transition. When McKinley made that choice to stay, he was a popular breakout pick for 2026, but LSU's young defensive tackles got most of the reps when fall camp began. That led to questions about what McKinley's role would be this fall.

Now, it looks like McKinley is back in the mix and competing for a starting gig. Even if McKinley doesn't get the starter nod, he'd be in the rotation if the season began today. McKinley, paired with LSU's talented youngsters like Richard Anderson and Deuce Geralds, plus the arrivals of transfer defensive tackles Malik Blocton and Stephiylan Green, should give LSU one of the top DT rooms in the SEC.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: LSU football 5-star defensive tackle emerging at fall camp

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