University of Georgia Athletics
A Quick Chat With ... Isaiah McKenzie
August 26, 2016 | Football
By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer
Isaiah McKenzie is one Georgia's most exciting players. Among the most explosive and dangerous return men in college football, the junior from Miami has five career returns for touchdowns.
The speedy McKenzie, listed at 5-foot-8, 175 pounds, came to Georgia from American Heritage High School in Miami, where he was teammates with fellow Bulldog junior Sony Michel. Both players have been significant contributors in their first two seasons.
With the season opener against North Carolina right around the corner, McKenzie sat down Thursday for a quick chat about how a big return comes together, playing with Michel and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: If you could win an Olympic gold medal in any event, what would it be?
McKenzie: In any event? I would say golf.
Frierson: Do you play much?
McKenzie: I don't play much at all, but there's less running and less moving. ... Golf you're swinging a lot, but I don't mind that.
Frierson: If you could have played with or against anyone in history, who would it be?
McKenzie: I would want to play with Michael Irvin. He talks a lot and I always liked his energy.
Frierson: Returning a punt or kickoff for a touchdown looks like one of the most fun things you can do in sports, and you've done both here at Georgia. How much of those returns is pure improvisation and how much is practiced and planned?
McKenzie: It's structured, but sometimes it takes a turn and we end up doing something way different. ... Coach can call middle return but it can turn all the way left or all the way right, or go five yards backwards to then go forward. Sometimes it's make make a guy miss and hopefully your block will be there.
Frierson: Are you thinking at all during a return or is it just, there's daylight and I'm going for it?
McKenzie: There's no thinking. I'd say 99 percent of the time I'm not thinking, it's get the ball and go.
Frierson: Was there ever a time when you thought your size was going to keep you from playing football at this level?
McKenzie: I would say my sophomore year of high school, when Sony was getting all these offers and I wasn't getting any yet. I was like, oh, man, this is going to be hard. When I kept thinking I was like, I guess I got to keep playing football and working hard. In my junior year I started getting offers and that all changed.
Frierson: How cool is it that you and Sony were able to play together in high school and are now playing together here at Georgia?
McKenzie: It's very fun. In high school when we met, it was just all fun. We played in high school and did our part there, then we came here and I'm watching him play, he's watching me play and we still talk, laugh and have a good time. Not much has changed from high school to now.
Frierson: Obviously Sony has his music, and apparently he just put out a new song, so what is the most creative thing you do? Or is there something creative that you wish you could do?
McKenzie: I'd probably say I'd most likely be a dancer, because I like to dance. If I could perform, travel and perform, I would love that.
Frierson: What do you do in your quiet time, away from school and football?
McKenzie: I'm probably either with my girlfriend or I'm in bed playing video games.
Frierson: Do you have a No. 1 game right now?
McKenzie: Madden '17 is out now and I started playing that last night.
Frierson: Is that something you and your teammates get together and play or is that more of an individual thing?
McKenzie: It's an individual thing. Most football players, after football practice they don't want to play a football game.
Frierson: What's been the greatest athletic feat of your life, from something in Sanford Stadium to something you did in your back yard when you were 10 years old?
McKenzie: I would say having the No. 1 play on ESPN (SportsCenter) in high school. That was a (93-yard) kick return; I caught the kickoff and before I could move they were on me. I broke four tackles before I could really even take a step. I reversed field, then got down field, broke two more tackles and then scored.
It was the No. 1 play on ESPN and I was like, how did I do that?
(Click this link to watch a video of the return, which really is quite spectacular: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f78OxYQtg8g.)
John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
