1995--Ronald McKinnon

1995 Winner

Ronald McKinnon
Senior; Linebacker
University of North Alabama

Ronald McKinnon made Harlon Hill Trophy history in 1995 when he became the first defensive player to win the award. He received the second highest vote total in the awards history, with 188. He was just the fifth player in the history of NCAA Division II football history to be a three-time consensus first-team All-American. McKinnon was just the third player in the history of the Gulf South Conference to be selected first-team All-GSC four consecutive years. Made 621 career tackles, including 407 primary stops to become the all-time leading tackler in the history of UNA and the GSC. His 407 career primary tackles is a school record, surpassing the mark of 279 set by James Davis from 1987-90. McKinnon was selected as the Defensive Player of the Game in three straight Division II Championship Games (93,94,95). UNA went 48-5-1 during his career, winning three straight Gulf South Conference and three straight NCAA Division II National Championships. The three straight conference titles was the first time a league school has won three straight crowns, and the three Division II titles marked the first time in the history of NCAA scholarship football, that a school has won three straight titles. UNA ranked No.1 in Division II polls, and won 41 straight games against Division II opponents over his last three years. In 1995, he made 139 total tackles, with 100 primary stops, 11 tackles for a loss, 4 sacks, and 4 interceptions. He was selected as the 1995 State Amateur Athlete of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association; GSC Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive year; Football Gazette Division II National Player of the Year, and Football Gazette Defensive Back of the Year, first-team All-American by the Associated Press, the American Football Coaches Association, Football Gazette, American Football Quarterly, the Division II Sports Information Directors, and C.M. Frank. Ronald is currently starting at linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals.

Ronald McKinnon Photo Gallery

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