DALTON, Ga. — For a former Dalton High School football player, this spring was filled with new highs and a new challenge.

Jordon McKinney, a 2016 graduate of Dalton High, said he had been earning some first- and second-team reps at the University of Georgia for the first time in his college career during this year’s spring practices as a defensive back. A redshirt sophomore, McKinney impressed the Bulldogs’ coaching staff to the point he was named the team’s most outstanding defensive walk-on for the spring season.

This past week, however, McKinney was faced with a setback when he tore his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and MCL (medial collateral ligament) and suffered tendon damage in his right knee during a practice. Georgia coaches, including head coach Kirby Smart, called McKinney that evening to offer support and condolences, but despite the adversity McKinney’s spirits remain high.

It didn’t take long for McKinney to shift his mindset to the next challenge.

“Coach Smart said he felt like he may have jinxed me putting me out there with the ones and twos but I told him I would have been mad if he didn’t,” McKinney said. “I felt like this past season I really took advantage of being on scout team, going against one of the best SEC offenses every day. I worked hard this offseason and I was trying to take advantage of every opportunity given to me. I popped right back up when it happened, and for as long as it took me to get back up, that’s how long I was down about it.”

McKinney’s father, Jeff, was notified minutes after the injury took place, and said hearing the news was naturally upsetting. Watching how his son handled the situation was a source of pride.

“His mom was very tore up about it, and I was upset, too, but his spirits have really helped us more than anything,” Jeff McKinney said. “It was kind of ironic because he sent a text to us before that practice telling us to pray for him to have a good practice. He was extremely excited about how this spring was going.”

McKinney will have surgery this Thursday at Piedmont Medical Center in Athens, and said he plans on making a full recovery and returning as soon as possible. McKinney saw action this past season in games against Austin Peay State University and the University of Massachusetts. He was also honored as a defensive scout team player of the year this past season.

After showing such promise during team scrimmages this spring, he will likely miss his redshirt junior season this fall. Doctors have told McKinney to expect a nine- to 12-month recovery timeline, but McKinney hasn’t totally ruled out returning by the end of the 2019 season.

Heading into what will likely be a long and arduous rehabilitation, McKinney’s perspective remains one of gratitude rather than victimhood.

“I told my mom that with every burden there’s a blessing,” McKinney said. “There’s still so much more waiting for me and there’s nothing I can change about the past. If anything, maybe I can help someone else who is going through the same thing.

“The support I’ve had has been unreal, and it’s hard to stay down when so many people are bringing you up. I understand why people would feel bad for me, but I’m not worried about it, so they shouldn’t worry about it either. I’m still so thankful for where I am and I’m working already like I’m going to come back tomorrow.”