DJ McKinney is the star cornerback for the Buffs, grinding hard to make every snap count and proving himself as one of Colorado’s rising talents. His journey hasn’t just been about natural skill, but more of the work he’s put in on and off the field.
Behind that effort is a strong family foundation that has shaped his path. The college football star’s parents, Amy and Damion McKinney, have been by his side from the start, with his dad playing a particularly strategic role in his football success.
DJ McKinney’s Parents, Amy and Damion
Dylahn “DJ” McKinney was born in Arlington, Texas, and raised in a supportive home by his parents, Amy and Damion McKinney. Though they prefer to stay out of the spotlight, their influence on DJ’s growth both as a student and an athlete has been undeniable.
Damion once shared in an interview that, “DJ was born in Dallas, but I was born in Waco, Texas,” underscoring the family’s deep Texas roots.
From an early age, Amy and Damion emphasized education, discipline, and hard work, values that shaped DJ’s character and continue to guide him today.
While Amy provided steady encouragement, Damion took on a particularly strategic role, ensuring DJ stayed grounded as he navigated the challenges of competitive sports. His guidance has been instrumental in molding DJ’s focused approach to football and academics, laying the foundation for the success he’s enjoying with the Colorado Buffaloes as one of their rising defensive stars.
DJ McKinney’s Father’s Football Background and Guidance
DJ McKinney’s rise as a standout cornerback for Colorado is tied closely to the foundation laid by his father, Damion McKinney. A 1992 graduate of LaVega High School, Damion excelled in football, basketball, and track, earning first-team Super Centex and all-district honors.
On the football field, he was a versatile force at quarterback and defensive back, while also making his mark as an all-district basketball standout. After his playing days, Damion turned to coaching.
He worked with the Dallas-based DFW Elite Basketball organization as recruiting director, served as an assistant boys coach at Sunset High School in Dallas (where he taught ninth-grade history), and was also an assistant women’s basketball coach at Baylor University under Kim Mulkey.
Reflecting on his athletic journey, Damion explained, “I played football, basketball, baseball… football I played quarterback and corner, and then basketball I played point guard.”
That passion carried into coaching. One college coach, when he was at the University of Texas, said, “‘If I ever get a head job, I want to bring you along,” and they eventually gave him the job. From there, Damion found himself in recruiting, where he thrived.
Even then, DJ was never far from the action. “DJ was a little boy, you know… he actually came to the National Championship team game when we played Notre Dame in Denver, Colorado… and DJ was like 10 years old.”
His father remembers how early the game hooked him. “He started five years old, he was playing football, he was playing flag football at five years old, and I was at Baylor at the time, so a lot of times coaches would, you know, come and take him to practice.”
But as Damion recalls, the busy recruiting on weekends kept him away from his son, prompting him to quit. “I got out after seven years to really start focusing on DJ.” By middle school, his son’s direction was clear. “His coach told me, he said, man, DJ don’t want to play no basketball, and he was like sixth grade, and he said uh, he wants to play football.”
From then on, training became serious. “I would have him lift to his trainer Kay Mack… he would train with Clay Mack, and then he’d lift back home.”
The background on coaching helped Damion realize where his son’s strengths lay. “He wasn’t gonna be an offensive player because he was too physical, he was too aggressive… he liked to tackle and hit and uh, Clay kind of took his footwork and his DB skills to another level, and he worked with Clay from like seventh grade all the way up until now.”
It’s clear that behind DJ’s rise is a family deeply invested in his success. With Amy’s support and Damion’s vision, guidance, and sacrifices, DJ McKinney grew from a young boy on the sidelines to a key playmaker for the Buffs.
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