McKinniss, from Findlay, Ohio, handled kickoffs for Kentucky each of the last two years and was the team's punter as a freshman in 2016 and averaged 39.2 yards per punt. The next year the Wildcats added All-American punter Max Duffy. McKinnis entered the NCAA transfer portal earlier this month.
As UK's kickoff specialist last year, McKinniss ranked seventh in the SEC in touchback percentage at 62.9 percent. Mizzou's Tucker McCann led the league at 64.6 percent. McCann, a senior last season, handled punts, field goals/PATs and kickoffs last season. The Tigers signed high school recruit Harrison Mevis to push for the kicker job in 2020.