Patch Athlete of The Week: Kyle McKinnon [VIDEO]

There are some football programs around the state where the star running back is treated like royalty at the expense of others.

At Ansonia , sophomore Arkeel Newsome set a state record with 50 touchdowns to go with 2,714 yards, just a year after Montrell Dobbs rushed for 3,600 yards. At Torrington , Brendan Lytton rushed for nine TDs in one game last year and accumulated 2,000 plus yards this season.

Keeping the star fat and happy is a priority in some gluttonness corners. At New London, running back Kyle McKinnon holds the Whalers’ career rushing (about 4,500 yards), 1,000 yard seasons (3) and TD (60) records, but he doesn’t mind sharing the all-you-can-eat buffet.

In the Whalers’ Thanksgiving win over NFA, he carried for the bulk of a 60-yard drive to the 1-yard line. Teammate Jevon Elmore carried in for the touchdown, and McKinnon was just as happy making a lead block.

“I don’t really care about my statistics,” McKinnon said. “Seeing those numbers, that doesn’t mean anything to me. Anyone with 3,000 yards, that’s just due to the carries they get. They’re just stacking up their numbers in blowout wins. I don’t need that.”

Other examples of McKinnon’s unselfishness: In a season-opening 43-0 win over Woodstock , he carried just three times – all for touchdowns totaling 93 yards. New London spread the wealth among its standouts as Elmore and Khaleed Fields also scored before the 50-point rule became an issue by halftime.

In the Whalers’ 9th-game against Griswold, he didn’t protest when the coaching staff opted to sit him to rest a banged-up shoulder. While he limited his stats for the good of the team and his future welfare, backup Seals shone in his place with 180 yards in a 15-0 win.

Don’t feel too sorry for McKinnon. He still led the area with 23 regular-season touchdowns to go with 1,533 yards – his third season over 1,000 yards. But he could have piled up more if it were his mission to make Maxpreps national leader list and hog all the spotlight.

With its playoff life on the line against NFA, the Whalers leaned on McKinnon more than usual after they fell behind 17-12 in the second quarter. The 6-foot, 200-pounder toted the ball 29 times for 240 yards and three TDs in the win over NFA, earning him Patch Athlete of the Week honors. He figuredto be the centerpiece in the Whalers’ quest for a sixth state title. He did his part with 225 yards in the quarterfinals Tuesday, although the 9-2 Whalers fell just short 27-26 to eight-time state champ New Canaan .

Though his stats are not as impressive as some state backs, nobody boasts more yards after contact. You can say the quiet McKinnon lets his YAC (yards after contact) make up for his lack of yack (speaking about himself).

His running ability has few rivals. McKinnon has good, if not great speed. His signature move is breaking tackles, initiating contact and maintaining un upright position while churning his legs and twisting to break free from fallen defenders.

Carry after carry, McKinnon appears stopped only to wiggle free and maintain power in a forward surge.

ECC opponents are aware of McKinnon’s prowess, but NL coach Jeff Larson lamented early this season that college recruiters weren’t queuing up at his office door with scholarship offers for McKinnon.

That changed last week. McKinnon received his first full scholarship offer to Akron University, a Division I school from the Mid-American Conference. More offers could come from more big-time programs, plus Akron just made a coaching change this week. But Akron would suit McKinnon fine.

“It’s my hometown and I would love to go back to my hometown,” he said. “We moved to New London when I was 5. I definitely want to play Division I and get a full ride. I have to thank my offensive line and all the guys I’ve played with in New London Whaler youth football since I was six or seven for getting me where I am today.”

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