McKinzy chose the Gophers over offers from Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa.
Dimonic McKinzy, a 5-foot-11, 219-pound quarterback from Kansas City (KS) Wyandotte, committed to Minnesota after attending the spring game. Gopher Hole caught up with McKinzy Saturday evening to learn more about his decision.
Gopher Hole: What made you decide today that you wanted to commit to Minnesota?
Dimonic McKinzy: The first thing that made me decide was the relationship that I had with the coaches. It excelled everybody’s relationships as far as different colleges and just the excitement that I had towards Minnesota and I just wanted to close the deal. I was very confident about this, especially after talking to my dad and a few coaches of mine.
Gopher Hole: How many times have you been up to Minnesota?
Dimonic McKinzy: This was my second time. I was at one of the camps. That was when I got the offer.
Gopher Hole: What coach have you been dealing with the most at Minnesota?
Dimonic McKinzy: The most would be Coach (Bill) Miller and Coach (Ryan) Mauiri.
Gopher Hole: What has the reaction been with your friends and family since you have committed?
Dimonic McKinzy: It was crazy. I had a lot of thank yous and congratulations. It was nice. It was a nice support after they found out that I had committed.
Gopher Hole: What has the reaction of the Gopher coaches?
Dimonic McKinzy: They were fired up. Super excited, just like I was. I was happy to commit.
Gopher Hole: Did that make you feel like “I made the right decision and that if they are this excited about me coming here, that this is the right place for me?”
Dimonic McKinzy: Yes. Yes, sir, it did. After that, I felt that I accomplished something real major and right now, I am not taking it back.
Gopher Hole: I know that it has only been a few hours, but do you feel like there has been a weight lifted off your shoulders?
Dimonic McKinzy: A lot of weight off the shoulders.
Gopher Hole: Did you even think that you might be thinking about committing this weekend? Had you even thought that far or did it just happen?
Dimonic McKinzy: I had been thinking for a little while. It wasn’t just an up and commit type of deal. I had been thinking about it for a little while.
Gopher Hole: How many offers were you up to when you committed?
Dimonic McKinzy: Four (Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Minnesota).
Gopher Hole: Are you going to try to come back here again for a football camp this summer or do you know what your summer plans are going to be now that you have committed?
Dimonic McKinzy: I don’t know anything about the summer plans right now, but I am going to have to set up a time for my official visit, though.
Gopher Hole: Had you thought about going to any college camps before you decide to commit? Had you thought that far ahead yet and thought about what you were going to do camp-wise?
Dimonic McKinzy: Not really. Just a few Elite-11’s and Nike camps, but no college stuff.
Gopher Hole: When did you get into town?
Dimonic McKinzy: We got here around 10:15.
Gopher Hole: Did you get a chance to see much of the school or city? I know your dad told me that you took a tour of the city this evening. What all did you get a chance to see?
Dimonic McKinzy: Most of the downtown. We went to the Mall of America and that’s about it. It is diverse out here.
Gopher Hole: Does Minneapolis remind you a little bit of Kansas City or is it a little different?
Dimonic McKinzy: It is a lot different. There are not as many races in Kansas City.
Gopher Hole: Have you thought much about a college major? I think I have read that you are interested in Business, right.
Dimonic McKinzy: Yes, sir. Business and Management.
Gopher Hole: Is that one of the things that attracted you to Minnesota? Obviously Minnesota has a good reputation with the Carlson School of Management? Is that something that got you excited about Minnesota as well?
Dimonic McKinzy: Yes, sir, because I was talking to Coach Kill and we were talking about construction. I want to own my own construction business. They have a guy, I forgot his name, but he has a Fortune 500 company on construction.
Gopher Hole: What things are you trying to work on to improve yourself as a football player?
Dimonic McKinzy: I need to work on my timing, my accuracy, football. Just everything.
Gopher Hole: When you were watching the spring game, were you focusing in on the quarterbacks?
Dimonic McKinzy: The quarterback, because that is the position I am going to play, so I was watching the zone reads and the play actions. They did a lot of audibles with the plays. I am assuming I’ll be doing the same things.
Gopher Hole: What was your impression of the quarterback play today?
Dimonic McKinzy: It was pretty decent. I liked it.
Gopher Hole: Did you see how your abilities could fit in with that type of offense?
Dimonic McKinzy: Yes, sir. I think that I fit in pretty good because while watching the quarterbacks, they were a great group of guys. I am putting myself in that situation to make me work hard.
Gopher Hole: Obviously, they want a quarterback who can not only throw, but also can run and that seems to be your style of quarterbacking.
Dimonic McKinzy: Yes, sir.