DJ McKinney made his presence felt immediately in a Notre Dame uniform

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The fifth-year cornerback returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown in the Irish’s season-opening win over Wisconsin, delivering one of the biggest plays of the game.

For Notre Dame’s coaching staff, though, the performance was not exactly a surprise.

“DJ McKinney is extremely gifted,” defensive backs coach Aaron Henry said during fall camp. “Sometimes the Lord just blesses some young men with the ability to play that cornerback position, and he’s one of them.”

McKinney began his career at Oklahoma State before transferring to Colorado, where he started 22 games over two seasons. His interception against Wisconsin was his fifth career pick and second career pick-six.

He's even got Notre Dame's pass game coordinator Gino Guidugli saying McKinney’s combination with Leonard Moore gives the Irish a dangerous cornerback duo.

“It’s kind of like pick your poison,” Guidugli said. “You got Leonard on one side and him on the other.”

McKinney is now entering his final college season with a chance to strengthen his NFL Draft stock. And for McKinney, playing opposite Moore has been the main factor in helping ease his transition into Notre Dame’s secondary.

“I’m on the field with guys I can trust, guys that can trust me,” McKinney said. “The sky is the limit for our secondary.”

It's clear. One game into his Notre Dame career, McKinney has already put one loud statement on tape.