Notre Dame Has A GREAT Problem At Cornerback In 2026...
Ryan Roberts from A to Z Sports breaks down the Fighting Irish field cornerback battle between DJ McKinney and Jaden Sanders - and explains why this competition is actually a sign of how far Marcus Freeman's program has come.
Video Transcript
Now, ultimately, I do think McKinney is the starter because of one, I think he was brought here for a reason.
He's being paid to pa- play here for a reason.
I also do think it comes back to an initial conversation of Jayden Sa- Sanders brings so much versatility to the table that he's going to play.
Like, there's no doubt about it.
You also have Dallas Golden who can mix in at the nickel.
You have Mark Zachary who's gonna play outside as well.
But regardless, Sanders is gonna play a lot of football for Notre Dame in 2026, and I think that flexibility gives you the opportunity to start McKinney outside and then Sanders mix and matches as a field and nickel corner for this team to strengthen that secondary.
Now, my expectations for McKinney, if healthy, which is obviously an issue for him in 2025, I expect him to be probably, if not the best second corner in the country on a team, one of the very best.
I mean, to have Leonard Moore locking down the boundary, you're gonna get a lot of opportunities, and DJ McKinney has ball skills.
He has athleticism.
I expect him to make a lot of plays on the football next season.
So I really do have high expectations for him
