Linebacker Kobie McKinzie, a graduate transfer from Oklahoma, gives Northwestern one of the Big Ten's more experienced defensive additions for 2026. The 6-foot-2, 235-pound inside linebacker compiled 84 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks across four seasons with the Sooners, starting eight games in 2025 before an injury ended his year.
McKinzie committed to Northwestern on January 6. A former consensus four-star recruit out of Lubbock-Cooper High School in Texas, he was ranked the No. 3 linebacker nationally by ESPN and earned Under Armour All-American honors in 2021.
Northwestern Football spotlighted McKinzie in a video feature posted Thursday, June 11, calling him an "aggressive, energetic, lead-dog mentality" player. He joins a defense under coordinator Tim McGarigle and head coach David Braun. The Wildcats open the season Saturday, September 5, against South Dakota State at Martin Stadium, 7:00 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.
