Xavier McKinney

Originally a 2nd-round (36th pick overall) draft choice by the Giants in 2020. As a rookie in 2020, McKinney played in the final 6 games, including starts in each of the last 4. He was on injured reserve from Sept. 6-Nov. 28 after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured foot he suffered in training camp. He contributed 24 tackles (14 solo), including one tackle for loss, and had one interception.

TRANSACTIONS:

• Originally a 2nd round (36th pick overall) draft choice by the Giants in 2020.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

• As a rookie in 2020, McKinney played in the final 6 games, including starts in each of the last 4…On injured reserve from Sept. 6-Nov. 28 after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured foot he suffered in training camp…Contributed 24 tackles (14 solo), including one tackle for loss…Also had one interception…Played 5 snaps on defense and 9 on special teams in his NFL debut at Cincinnati (11/29)…Made his first start vs. Arizona (12/13) and had 4 tackles (3 solo)…With James Bradberry sidelined, started at left cornerback and tallied 4 tackles (2 solo) vs. Cleveland (12/20)…Started at free safety and collected 8 tackles (season-high 7 solo) at Baltimore (12/27)…Helped secure the Giants' victory in their season finale when he intercepted an Andy Dalton pass in the end zone for his first career pick with 1:15 remaining vs. Dallas (1./3)…Also had 8 tackles (4 solo), including one for a loss.

COLLEGE:

• In 3 years at Alabama, McKinney played in 41 games with starts in each of his last 28 games…Totaled 176 tackles (108 solo), including 13 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, 5 interceptions – returning 2 for touchdowns - 20 passes defensed, 5 forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
• As a junior in 2019, started all 13 games…Named first-team All-SEC by the league's coaches and the AP…Selected 2nd-team All-America by the AFCA, The Sporting News and Walter Camp and 3rd team by the AP…Named a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation's top defensive back…Finished 10th in the SEC in with a team and career-high 95 tackles (59 solo), including 5.5 for loss, 3.0 sacks and a conference-high 4 forced fumbles…Added 3 interceptions, including one he returned 81 yards for a touchdown, 5 pass breakups and 5 quarterback hurries…Selected as one of the Alabama coaching staff's defensive players of the week 8 times…Tallied a team-high 9 tackles and intercepted his first pass of the season vs. South Carolina…Contributed a career-high 13 tackles vs. Ole Miss…Tied his career best with a team-leading 13 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, 2.0 sacks and 1 forced fumble vs. eventual national champion LSU…In his career finale, made 10 tackles, including 1 sack, to tie for the team lead vs. Michigan in the Citrus Bowl.
• In 2018, started all 15 games and ranked 3rd on the team with 73 tackles (44 solo), including 6 stops for loss, 3.0 sacks, 2 interceptions, (one a pick-6), 10 pass breakups, and one forced fumble…Named the Defensive Most Valuable Player in the Orange Bowl…Made his first career start and collected 3 tackles vs. Louisville…Intercepted his first career pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown and added 2 tackles at Ole Miss…Registered 7 tackles, including a 10-yard sack, vs. Texas A&M…Picked off his 2nd pass of the year to go with 3 tackles, including a half-sack, vs. Louisiana…Led the Tide with 7 tackles in the National Championship Game vs. Clemson…As a freshman in 2017, played in 13 of 14 games, primarily on special teams…Totaled 8 tackles (5 solo), including 1.5 for loss…Made his collegiate debut on special teams vs. Florida State…Played in the secondary for the first time and had 2 tackles vs. Fresno State…Played on special teams in the National Championship Game vs. Georgia.

OFF-THE-FIELD ACTIVITY:

• Supported RISE in its mission to increase civic engagement by spreading the word about voter rights, registration and education in Staten Island, N.Y. through the Team of Teams initiative…Invited a group of young men from MLK High School on a field trip to learn about the struggles and hardships of African Americans…Invited Brick Township High School football team to a Zoom call to speak with the student-athletes and surprised the team with a $10,000 equipment grant…Met with students from Cedar Grove Middle School for a virtual Play 60 event to discuss the importance of 60 active minutes a day and answer questions…With fellow rookies on Halloween, invited young patients from Hackensack University Medical Center to virtually meet and play games with the children…Participated in a charity Call of Duty tournament to raise funds for medical supplies.

PERSONAL:

• McKinney was a 4-year letterman at Roswell (Ga.) High School, playing everywhere in the secondary as well as wide receiver…Unanimous 4-star prospect who was named a top-10 safety nationally by all major recruiting outlets...Participated in the Under Armour All-America Game and Nike's 2016 "The Opening."…As a senior in 2016, was selected as the Georgia Class 7A Defensive Player of the Year by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution...Recorded 82 tackles, 7 interceptions, 9 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles and 2 recoveries as a senior in 2016…In his junior season, had 111 tackles, including 4 for a loss and 2 sacks, 13 pass breakups and 9 interceptions, 2 of which were returned for touchdowns…Also played basketball at Roswell.