Funa, McKinley honored by FWAA
10/23/19 | Football
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.
Funa, a true freshman, leads the Ducks in sacks (3.0) and tackles for loss (6.5) while also totaling 17 tackles and four quarterback hurries. He is sixth among FBS freshmen and seventh overall in the Pac-12 conference in TFL, while ranking seventh in the Pac-12 in sacks.
McKinley Notes
» One of three freshmen with two interceptions in a game this season.
» In addition to the two interceptions vs. Colorado, he deflected a third pass that Bryson Young subsequently picked off.
» Recorded three tackles in each of the first four games of the season.
» First career start came in the season opener against Auburn.
» Played in three games in 2018 and utilized a redshirt.
Funa Notes
» First Oregon freshman with two sacks in a game (Nevada) since Jalen Jelks in 2015.
» First Duck since 2017 with two sacks and three TFLs in a game (Nevada).
» Career-high four tackles vs. Colorado while tallying three tackles three different times.
» Highest ranked linebacker recruit in school history by 247Sports.
