USC legend Kenny McKinley dead at 23
Kenny McKinley, a wide receiver for the Gamecocks from 2005-2008, was found dead at his Colorado home in Arapahoe County.
He was 23 years old.
"Kenny was certainly one of my all-time favorite players," coach Steve Spurrier said Monday night after hearing the news. "He was a wonderful guy. It's hard to figure it, how or why this happened."
According to Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson, McKinley's death was "an apparent suicide," but authorities were waiting on a field report from investigators before releasing further information.
"I don't understand it, if it happened the way they say," Spurrier said. "It's hard to comprehend."
One of USC's favorite sons was most recently in town for Carolina's 17-6 win over Georgia on Sept. 11 when he received a round of applause from the Williams-Brice crowd.
"He came for the Georgia game," Spurrier said. "Seemed in good spirits, great smile like he always had."
McKinley is South Carolina's all-time leader in both receptions (207) and receiving yards (2,781) and finished his career with 19 touchdowns, good for second on the all-time list at Carolina. His name is enshrined on the ramp between the North and East end zones for his honors.
McKinley's name is littered across USC's record books in several other categories, as the native of Mableton, Ga., topped the Carolina list for catches in a season with 77 in 2008 and was seventh all-time in games played (48) and fourth all-time in starts (40).
Additionally, he was fourth all-time in 100-yard receiving games with seven.
In his final game ever at Williams-Brice Stadium, McKinley stood out in the Senior Day win over Arkansas, catching seven passes for 130 yards and a touchdown.
Other highlights of McKinley's career included a 151-yard receiving effort in an overtime loss to Tennessee in 2007 and a 112-yard, two touchdown performance over Houston in the 2006 Liberty Bowl.
His first career touchdown came in a 14-10 win at Arkansas in 2005. He also threw a touchdown pass against Kentucky in 2006.
After finishing his stellar career with the Gamecocks, McKinley was taken in the fifth round – 141st overall – by the Denver Broncos in the 2009 NFL Draft. He appeared in eight games last season for the Broncos but did not catch any passes.
He was placed on the injured reserve list for the 2009 season on Aug. 5.
"Kenny had a promising future on the football field, but more importantly, he was a great teammate whose smile and personality could light up the room," Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said in a statement. "This is a tragic loss for our football team, and his family is in all of our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time."
McKinley's death was the first by a recently-departed Gamecock since the shocking passing of safety Jamacia Jackson in 2008.
McKinley is survived by a young son.
"It's a sad day," Spurrier said. "Sad day."