MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — There he was, ready to make an impression. And boy did he during spring camp back in 2016. Then a freshman, Kennedy McKoy lowered his shoulder and plowed through a senior safety.
Dana Holgorsen said back then that McKoy was "on track." Now a junior and the veteran of West Virginia's deep running back room, it's McKoy's time to shine as the go-to guy.
A 6-foot, 200-plus-pound junior back, McKoy's reps have steadily risen in the past two seasons as he has been used as a change-of-pace runner behind Justin Crawford, who cranked out two 1,000-yard seasons for the Mountaineers. McKoy, though, understands that the full-time job at No. 1 on the depth chart is his for the taking. That means, he said, it's time for a little bit of fine tuning.
"Right now in my game I’m working on more of the little things — the footwork and the technique things," McKoy said in the players' first media session of the summer. "Just being more consistent and trying to become more of an every-down back instead of someone who breaks a long run and has to come out."
Speed. Strength. Endurance. Readying for more snaps. Finishing long runs. That's what McKoy has focused on this offseason. It's less about worrying who will start and more about making sure he's going full bore every snap. If he's not, there's someone else who will.
"We’ve got a motto this year where we’re going to trim the fat," he said. "Either everybody’s going hard or if you’re not going hard, you’re going to get out. Everybody’s just playing to the highest standards."
If McKoy earns the starting nod, he will have done just that — earned it. He will have to pluck it from the grasp of backs like Martell Petteway, Alec Sinkfield and newcomer Leddie Brown.
McKoy's skill set, however, presents versatility. He carried the ball 125 times a season ago, gaining 596 yards and finding the end zone seven times. He also caught 10 passes for 72 yards, with a long of 21 yards, showing he has capability out of the backfield.
He's got speed, and he's proven that he's not afraid to lower his shoulder and make hits, either.
"I’m more of an all-around type guy," he pointed out. "I like to get out of the backfield in space. When I have the ball, people underestimate me because I’m not the biggest back. But I like to run physical."
Underestimate? There's a term that's familiar for West Virginia football, huh? But it's not just McKoy who might wear that label but instead the entire group of West Virginia's backs.
Most of the hype for West Virginia's offense circles around Will Grier and the passing game. But that's just fine for McKoy.
"We enjoy being the underdog, but we intend to be the strongest unit on this team," he said.
And that would be just fine for Grier.
"I don’t think it’s a problem at all. We’re always trying to improve, and I really like this group of running backs," the redshirt senior quarterback said. "I think we’ve made huge strides."
And having McKoy lead the way? Also fine by Grier.
"Kennedy, he’s just a great football player," the quarterback said. "He’s got a knack for it."