Today a legend has left a deep, painful wound in the lives of those who knew Kenny McKinley. Kenny was the all time leader in receptions for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks and was highly regarded in our region as a legendary player.
Many talked of his potential in the NFL and his always present smile on his face. Kenny McKinley was drafted in the fifth round to the Denver Broncos and played eight games during his first season. Due to an injury late in the season last year, he was placed on injury reserve. Now, it is extremely difficult to fathom this loss and to speak of him in the past tense. His death is currently sending shock-waves through all of South Carolina and through the Denver Broncos organization.
As a freshman at USC in 2007, I remember placing all of my faith in Kenny McKinley when it was game time. Once, he even threw a pass for a reception far better than our current quarterback, Blake Mitchell, that I created a Facebook account titled "Kenny McKinley for USC Quarterback." Obviously, this was all in great fun but the student body really believed in him and his talents on the field. We placed our faith in this one player and applauded his success at being drafted to the NFL.
Last week when Kenny was in town to see our victory against the Georgia bulldogs, his smile was exactly what made the entire stadium light up and applaud his presence. For us, he was more than just an NFL player. He was our hope for years, and we had high hopes for his career professionally. Now, he shall be a treasured memory to us all. Today, we mourn the death of Kenny McKinley and place our thoughts with his family and everyone who knew him.
RIP Kenny McKinley
