Parker McKinney Returned To Eastern Kentucky To Handle ‘Unfinished Business’

Eastern Kentucky quarterback Parker McKinney announced his intentions to return for a sixth year this offseason. 

McKinney already holds multiple school records for the Colonels, including being the only player in school history to account for over 10,000 yards of total offense. He holds the career record for passing touchdowns (74), passing yards (9,718), completions (816), passing attempts (1,300), and total offense (11,164). 

Last season, McKinney led Eastern Kentucky to a share of the ASUN Conference Championship and a berth into the FCS Playoffs. He posted his second consecutive 3,000-yard season and was named the ASUN Co-Offensive Player of the Year. McKinney has already earned preseason honors, including being named to the Bluebloods 2023 Preseason FCS All-American Team. 

McKinney was selected to represent Eastern Kentucky at the inaugural UAC media day in Arlington, Texas. He spoke with Zach McKinnell of The Bluebloods about his decision to return to Eastern Kentucky. 

“Honestly, it’s just the coaching staff, my teammates, and just the community around Eastern Kentucky in Richmond,” McKinney said. “Obviously, I feel like there’s a lot of unfinished business at EKU. We made the playoffs last year… It was a big goal, but just making the playoffs wasn’t necessarily exactly what we wanted.”

The Colonels faced Gardner-Webb in the first round of the FCS playoffs last season but fell 52-41 to the Runnin’ Bulldogs. McKinney spoke about the learning experiences from that game and how it prepared the Colonels to make another run to the playoffs in 2023.

“I think the biggest learning experience is I felt like we all set our standards to make the playoffs,” McKinney said. “So once we made it, it was almost like a lot of people on the team felt like we accomplished something when in reality we really didn’t accomplish anything. I think this year just set the standards higher than what it was last year.”

Eastern Kentucky will open the 2023 season on Sep. 2 against Cincinnati. The full interview with Eastern Kentucky quarterback Parker McKinney can be found below.

VIDEO: 2023 UAC Media Day: Parker McKinney (Eastern Kentucky QB)

AUDIO: 2023 UAC Media Day: Parker McKinney (Eastern Kentucky QB)

RELATED: 2023 UAC Media Day Central

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