Texas A&M added a key piece to its defensive line Friday afternoon when the Aggies received a commitment from Dominick McKinley, a four-star prospect from Louisiana. Here’s what you need to know:
- McKinley, who plays at Acadiana High School in Lafayette, La., is ranked No. 38 overall and the No. 7 defensive lineman in the Class of 2024, per the 247Sports Composite. He is also the top-ranked player in the state.
- McKinley is the 21st commitment in Texas A&M’s class that is ranked fifth nationally.
- He is the fourth top-100 prospect in the Aggies’ class that also features No. 12 Cameron Coleman, No. 63 Drelon Miller and No. 81 Dealyn Evans.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
What it means for Texas A&M
It’s another in a long line of recent high-level defensive line commitments for the Aggies. McKinley is the third defensive line commitment in A&M’s 2024 class and its second national top-100 recruit at the position, joining Evans. The Aggies have had exceptional success recruiting the defensive front in recent years, signing five-star recruit DJ Hicks in 2023, and five five-star recruits in 2022, led by Walter Nolen.
Dating back to 2021, the Aggies have signed 10 defensive linemen who ranked in the national top 100 in their class. Adding McKinley and Evans will give them a dozen. Of the 10 who signed before this year, eight are still on campus. That’s elite-level recruiting at a position the Aggies need to thrive to win in the SEC.
What McKinley brings to the Aggies
He’s big (6 foot 5, 280 pounds), long and explosive. McKinley moves well for his size and possesses strength, athleticism and versatility to play multiple spots along the defensive line. At Acadiana, he plays primarily out of a three-point stance and displays good power and playmaking ability from the defensive interior.
McKinley finished his junior year with 86 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. He even picked off two passes, returning one for a touchdown. He also competes in track and field, where he throws the shot put and discus. He looks like a potential early-impact player on Texas A&M’s interior defensive line.
Required reading
(Photo: Maria Lysaker / USA Today)
