LSU football defensive tackle Dominick McKinley has reemerged in recent weeks, taking on a bigger role and giving LSU more depth on the interior defensive line.
McKinley played 29 snaps at Auburn, a season high. McKinley delivered with a 75.1 PFF grade, a sack, and three stops. McKinley's presence was felt, and he posed problems for the offensive line as a run defender and pass rusher.
With McKinley's recent stretch, PFF now grades him as one of the top defensive tackles in college football.
McKinley only played four snaps at Kentucky. It's unclear if McKinley was banged up or if that was just a coach's decision. However, it may not be a coincidence that McKinley's snap count has seen an uptick after LSU struggled to stop the run at Kentucky.
LSU's
defense has responded with two dominant performances vs. Mississippi State and Auburn, and McKinley has played a big role in that.
In the spring, McKinley was a projected starter. He was a five-star recruit in 2024, played as a freshman, and made steady progress as a sophomore in 2025. But LSU wanted to see more consistency from the talented Louisiana native. Head coach Lane Kiffin said LSU challenged McKinley near the end of the offseason, and McKinley responded with a strong fall camp.
If McKinley continues to play like this, it's a massive boost to LSU's defensive line. Depth in the trenches is critical late in the season, and LSU's defensive line is rounding into form.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Former 5-star Dominick McKinley giving LSU’s defensive line a lift
