Takkarist McKinley was the star of the NFL draft, but his story runs deeper
PHILADELPHIA – When he walked on stage carrying a huge, framed photograph of his late grandmother after Roger Goodell announced that he was selected in the first round by the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night, it was obvious that there was something special about Takkarist McKinley.
It starts with Myrtle Collins. She was special, too.
When McKinley, growing up on the outskirts of Oakland in Richmond, Calif., was five years old his mother abandoned him. He never knew his father. Collins was pretty much all he had, and she didn’t have much when it came to resources. But she taught McKinley, who went on to star at defensive end for UCLA, how to survive. And thrive.
“She basically paid her bills by collecting water bottles and cans,” McKinley explained to reporters, with the photograph propped against a helmet at the table in the press conference room. “That’s a lot of bottles to collect. Paying rent was $1,000, or whatever. That’s a lot. So that just shows how much grind, how much determination she had to do just that.”
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On a night staged for theatrics, no one’s star shined brighter than McKinley, whose selection at 26th overall came well after prime time.
Sure, the Cleveland Browns kicked off a banner first round by selecting Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett with the No. 1 pick overall. And the three first-round quarterbacks – Mitchell Trubisky, Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson – are now walking marquee men for their new franchises after big trades.
But in McKinley’s case, the draft completed the promise that he made to Collins when she was on her deathbed in 2011 after suffering multiple strokes. He rushed to the hospital after a cousin called to inform him that she was in critical condition, and found her still responsive to the voices of family members. So he made his promise. McKinley’s final words to Collins underscored his mission to build a life away from the tough environment that he grew up in, to play football for a Division 1 school and to make it to the NFL.
“Thirty seconds later, that was it,” he said. “She nodded her head and passed away. That was one of the hardest moments of my life. I probably wouldn’t be sitting here talking to you guys if I didn’t make that promise.”
Listening to McKinley’s reflection drives home the point of just how personal this graduation to the next level is for players. Too often, they may be viewed as pieces of meat or faceless people behind the helmets who are plugged into a football system.
McKinley, whose journey also included being homeless, is a fresh reminder of what motivation can mean, too, when paired with talent.
“That’s what fuels me,” he said. “That’s why I play how I play and why I act how I act. When I got on stage, that was just a bunch of emotion that just kind of flowed out. The promise is complete, but as far as what I want to accomplish, it’s just beginning. But that promise I made to her means everything.”
This did not come as anything except a genuine expression. Carrying around the huge photograph was hardly the act of someone trying to score points with a prop.
It was all part of one man’s story, which should inspire any of us. McKinley didn’t choose to grow up in an environment where too many fall prey to gangs, violence and drugs.
“Me and my grandma would always stay in the house and watch wrestling,” he said, with dreadlocks flowing from under his new Falcons cap. “And her favorite wrestler was Booker T. That’s probably the biggest reason I’ve got dreads now.”
McKinley’s coach at UCLA, Jim Mora, Jr., came along to celebrate the graduation. Mora, with the perspective of being a head coach on the college and NFL levels, probably has never been more proud of a player as he is of McKinley.
“This is what I love about Takk: He’s never allowed himself to be the victim,” Mora told USA TODAY Sports. “Sometimes, you look for an excuse. He’s never done that. He set goals and went out and attained them.”
McKinley originally committed to Cal, where he overslept while on a recruiting visit.
The reasoning was understandable. It was the first time he had slept in a bed for several months.
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Yet Cal never happened, as McKinley was a non-qualifier due to grades. The route to UCLA went through junior college, and that included an unusual twist, too. McKinley played just one season at Contra Costa College because, according to Mora, UCLA defensive line coach Angus McClure relentlessly investigated McKinley’s case and discovered that he had not been properly credited for a summer school class that actually allowed him to academically qualify.
McClure went to great lengths to find the teacher of the class, which led to the correction of the grade. That was not the typical recruiting exercise. McClure, who also attended the draft, wound up becoming extremely close to McKinley as a mentor.
Now McKinley is ticketed to join forces with Falcons coach Dan Quinn, who once worked as an assistant under Mora.
As it got closer to the Falcons pick, Mora was in constant contact with Quinn, who was a bit nervous about whether they would actually land their targeted player. In the end, it’s also a case where connections helped in adding to the draft intel.
“He knows all about Takk,” Mora said of Quinn.
Which begins with the promise.
“Dreams come true,” McKinley said. “It don’t matter where you come from, or how you started. It’s all about how you finish. And I’m just getting started.”
Follow Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell.
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