LSU Football Player Profile No. 25 – Defensive Tackle Dominick McKinley

DominickMcKinley_MBacigalupi_678x381 — Junior Dominick McKinley played in all 13 of LSU's games last season at defensive tackle and started twice. (Tiger Rag photo by Michael Bacigalupi).

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LSU junior defensive tackle was listed as a starter or No. 2 on several depth charts leading into preseason camp that began on Wednesday.

But McKinley (6-foot-6, 297 pounds) was on neither unit as practice opened during the media viewing portions. The first team tackles were junior Auburn transfer Malik Blocton and true freshman signee and No. 4 ranked prep defensive lineman Deuce Geralds of Collins Hill High in Suwanee, Georgia, after shining during spring drills. The tackles on the No. 2 team were junior Clemson transfer Stephylan Green and true freshman signee and No. 1 ranked prep defensive lineman Richard Anderson of Karr High in New Orleans. Anderson also went through spring practice.

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McKinley was the No. 1 prospect in Louisiana out of Acadiana High in Lafayette when he signed with LSU in 2024 as a five-star prospect ranked No. 18 overall and as the No. 5 defensive lineman. He played in 10 games with no starts in his true freshman season. Suddenly, his position has depth, and he will likely need to make a move over the next few weeks to get in the rotation.

TIGER RAG SCOUTING REPORT: Massive, athletic interior defender with the length and movement skills to disrupt both run and pass games. Needs to start living up to his billing more.

BIOGRAPHY NOTES: Emerged as a key contributor on the defensive front for the Tigers in 2025 … Expected to continue to be a big part of the LSU defense as a junior in 2026 … Showed steady improvement throughout the season which saw his play count increase with each game a year ago … Joined the Tigers as a 5-star recruit from powerhouse Acadiana High School in Lafayette, La. … Has all of the tools – size, work ethic, grit and determination – to be LSU’s next great defensive tackle … Takes up a lot of space in the interior of the defensive line often being double-teamed … Has appeared in 23 games during his career, starting twice – Louisiana Tech and Vanderbilt in 2025 … Played in 10 games as a true freshman in 2024 followed by all 13 games last year … 19 career tackles along with 5.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks … Earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors in 2024 after his 4-tackle, 2-sack performance against Oklahoma … Majoring in social sciences.

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2025)
Part of LSU’s interior defensive line rotation … Appeared in all 13 games with 2 starts … Made first career start in win over Louisiana Tech in week 2 … Other start came at Vanderbilt … Finished season with 12 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and a sack … Added a quarterback hurry and batted down a pass … Impacted the Florida game with 2 tackles, including a sack for a 1-yard loss … Credited with half-tackles for loss against Ole Miss and Arkansas … Closed season with 3 tackles against Houston in the Texas Bowl when he played a career-best 48 snaps … Finished year with 370 defensive snaps with other high-snap counts coming against Ole Miss (40), Vanderbilt (39), and Florida (39).

FRESHMAN SEASON (2024)
Appeared in 10 games with no starts … Worked his way into the rotation at defensive tackle midway through the season … Played in LSU’s final 10 games … Had best overall game in win over Oklahoma with 4 tackles and a pair of sacks … Sacks vs. Oklahoma totaled 8 yards in losses … Sacks came on consecutive Oklahoma possessions in the fourth quarter … Earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors in win over the Sooners … Played season-high 23 snaps in wins over Ole Miss and Baylor in the Texas Bowl … Recovered a fumble in overtime win over Ole Miss … Fumble recovery came just before halftime at the Ole Miss 28-yard line … LSU kicked a field goal 4 plays later to cut the deficit to 17-13 at halftime … In first collegiate appearance and in Tiger Stadium debut, had a sack for a 5-yard loss in win over UCLA in week 4 … Had a pair of tackles and a quarterback hurry in win over Vanderbilt … Played a total of 146 defensive snaps and another 35 on special teams.

HIGH SCHOOL
Rated the top player in Louisiana for the Class of 2024 and a consensus 5-star defensive lineman … Ranked No. 13 nationally overall in the On3 composite and as the No. 3 player at his position … Ranked as high as No. 12 overall nationally by Rivals.com and No. 2 at his position by Rivals.com and ESPN … Prepped at Acadiana High School in Lafayette, leading the Rams to the Division I Select State Championship Game in 2023 … First-Team 5A All-State as a senior after recording 71 tackles, 15 quarterback hurries, 11 tackles for loss … Helped team to an 11-3 mark in 2023 … As a junior in 2022, racked up 86 tackles to go along with 18 tackles for loss and 10 sacks … Coached by Matt McCullough.

CAREER HIGHS
Tackles: 4 vs. Oklahoma, 2024
Tackles for Loss: 2.0 vs. Oklahoma, 2024
Sacks: 2.0 vs. Oklahoma, 2024
QB Hurries: 1, 2x (Last: at Alabama, 2025; First: vs. Vanderbilt, 2024)

NEXT: Center Braelin Moore

PREVIOUS BIOS:

Defensive Tackle Richard Anderson

Offensive Guard Aliou Bah

Safety Ty Benefield

Running Back Harlem Berry

Defensive Tackle Malik Blocton

Offensive Guard Bo Bordelon

Wide Receiver Jayce Brown

Defensive End Lamar Brown

Wide Receiver Tre Brown III

Punter Grant Chadwick