As a highly recruited star at Colleyville Heritage High School in Texas, DJ McKinney went to college confident in the young man he was at the time.

“It’s crazy, man, because coming into college, I thought I was ready for everything,” he said at Big 12 media day in Frisco, Texas, on Wednesday. “But a lot happens, a lot changes.”

Now going into his fourth year of college and his second year at Colorado, McKinney is a more mature young man and a dramatically better player than he was at 18 years old.

“You figure out who you really are (in college) and just become a better person,” he said. “Being here (at media day), honestly, just shows me how much I’ve grown since coming in, being a freshman at Oklahoma State, to where I am now, representing Colorado here.”

One of five players selected by CU head coach Deion Sanders to represent the Buffaloes in Frisco is a sign that McKinney is being counted on as a leader and that he’s trusted as a face of the program.

“It just means a lot, and it’s a true blessing to be here today,” he said.

McKinney earned it on and off the field, and he’s projected to be one of the top players for the Buffaloes this season. In fact, he’s viewed as one of the top players in the conference, as one of five defensive backs selected for the preseason all-conference team.

“It’s a blessing for sure,” he said of the preseason accolades, “but I’m always keeping the main thing the main thing, which is supporting my teammates and trying to win a Big 12 championship and just being a better athlete and person.”

McKinney has continued to grow and develop as a player since he arrived at Oklahoma State as a true freshman in 2022. That season, he played sparingly in four games, preserving his redshirt.In 2023, he wasn’t a starter, but he played the second-most snaps for the Cowboys at corner (and seventh-most overall on the defense), posting 38 tackles and five pass breakups.

Following the 2023 season, McKinney transferred to Colorado and earned a starting role, playing on the opposite side of the field from star Travis Hunter.

While Hunter had the spotlight, winning the Heisman Trophy as college football’s best player, as well as the Big 12 defensive player of the year, McKinney was quietly putting together his best season.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound McKinney racked up 62 tackles, three tackles for loss, three interceptions and nine pass breakups.

“I learned a lot about myself, that I could be an every down corner,” McKinney said of his first season as a starter. “Not just a guy who comes in every now and then, but definitely showed I was able to do it, help boost my confidence and just get me ready for the next level.”

Playing with Hunter, who was selected No. 2 overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL Draft in April, enhanced McKinney’s growth — on and off the field.

“Just embrace everything,” McKinney said. “Whatever comes your way, just be prepared. Never take a day off. He also showed me just like the love of the game. Just love the game and have fun with it, really.”

For the past year, McKinney has been able to learn not just from Hunter, but from his head coach, who is a Pro Football Hall of Famer and arguably the best cornerback in football history, and his position coach, Kevin Mathis, who played a decade in the NFL.

“The tendencies that I notice in receivers, I’m able to diagnose things quicker and better and faster and just go all out and just be a better teammate, be a better athlete,” he said.

While on ESPN during media day, Sanders highlighted McKinney as a player ready to take another step forward.

“He’s long, rangy, practices with an attitude,” Sanders said. “This kid works his butt off to be that guy, and he’s seen what that guy looks like. Over on the other side last year, it was that guy (Hunter). He understands how that guy practices; how that guy prepares; how that guy treats his body; how that guy makes sure he don’t put nothing in his body; how that guy understands the game; and how he prepares. So, he’s seen that and he wants to emulate and imitate that guy.”

That includes the awards collected by Hunter. McKinney said he focuses on the “main thing,” which is the grind and the work to get better. That hasn’t stopped during the offseason.

There’s no question, however, that McKinney has been driven by seeing Hunter’s results and accolades up close.

“Most definitely it has (fueled me),” McKinney said. “Seeing him win the Heisman, man, it just meant a lot to all of us, all of his teammates, all of the coaches and the staff. It just shows you if you work for it, you can get it.”