EUGENE, Ore. – After strong starts to their careers, Oregon linebacker Mase Funa and safety Verone McKinley III are on the 2019 Midseason Watch List for the FWAA Freshman All-American Team and the Shaun Alexander/Stand Together Freshman of the Year Award.
McKinley, who has started six of Oregon's seven games this season, ranks in a tie for second in the nation among freshmen in interceptions. The Ducks' sixth leading tackler, McKinley earned Pac-12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors after picking off a pair of passes against Colorado while also finishing with a career-high five tackles.