Northern Illinois Huskies#88 · WR Zaire McKinney
62 Overall rating steady- Height
- 6-4
- Weight
- 195 lb
- Class
- Freshman
- Hometown
- Michigan City, IN
Zaire McKinney is a WR (#88) for Northern Illinois, from Michigan City, IN. In the 2026 season he has 2 catches for 17 yards, 17.0 receiving yards per game over 1 game. He has 3.7 fantasy points (PPR), 3.7 per game. Season-by-season stats and the game log are below.
Skill profile
Production
Receiving yards 8
Receptions 7
Receiving TDs 3
Total TDs 3
Scrimmage yards 8
Fantasy points 8
Efficiency
Yards per catch 9
Yards per game 12
Catch volume 7
TD rate 3
Receiving score 8
Extra rushing 3
Measurables
Height 15
Weight 10
Frame 13
Experience 6
How we rate The MOUNTAINWESTFOOTBALL.CO skill model methodology & sources
Every rating is produced by our own model. Not a vendor score. Each skill is graded 0-20 by where a player ranks against others at his position, and the Overall is a position-normalized rating where an elite player tops out near 96 (a rare 97 plus is reserved for all-time greats) so a cornerback and a receiver read on the same scale. Ratings are built through week 6 of the 2026 season and refreshed every week through the season, so the ▲/▼ beside the Overall is the genuine move since last week.
- Data. Real box-score production from CollegeFootballData, drawn from official game stats.
- Method. Each stat is turned into a within-position percentile, then blended across a player's recent seasons, weighted by games played so recent, full seasons lead and an injury year does not sink the score.
- People. Compiled by The MOUNTAINWESTFOOTBALL.CO Desk and checked by Coverage Review against the official book.
- Updates. Recomputed on Mondays once the week's games are final. Corrections are logged in our editorial & corrections policy.
2026 season
2
Receptions
17
Receiving yards
0
Receiving TDs
8.5
Yards/catch
0
Rushing yards
0
Rushing TDs
Zaire McKinney career stats by year
| Season | Tm | G | Rec | Rec Yds | TD | Rush Yds | Fantasy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | NIU | 1 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 3.7 |
| Career | All | 1 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 3.7 |
Season totals, 2026. Source: CollegeFootballData.
Schedule and results
Status
28
No games match these filters.
Box score log
| Date | Opp | Result | REC | YDS | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19 | at Arizona | L 17-42 | 2 | 17 | 0 |
Career timeline
- NowNorthern Illinois WR: #88
- ClassFreshman
- HometownMichigan City, IN
Zaire McKinney: Northern Illinois WR profile and stats
Zaire McKinney is a WR (#88) for Northern Illinois, from Michigan City, IN. This profile tracks Zaire McKinney's season stats, skill ratings and game log through the 2026 season, and links straight into the Northern Illinois roster, the Mountain West players hub and the conference schedule. To see where Northern Illinois sits in the race, check the live Mountain West standings.
Zaire McKinney in the news
All newsPreviewAir Force at Northern Illinois: how to watch, Week 6 2026Week 6: Air Force visits Northern Illinois at Huskie Stadium. Kickoff is 7:30 PM ET, on CBSSN.2026-10-07RecapGeorgia State beat Northern Illinois 35-14 (Week 4, 2026)Georgia State beat Northern Illinois 35-14 at Center Parc Stadium. Now Georgia State is 3-1, and Northern Illinois is 0-4.2026-09-26RecapArizona beat Northern Illinois 42-17 (Week 3, 2026)Arizona beat Northern Illinois 42-17 at Arizona Stadium. Now Arizona is 2-1, and Northern Illinois is 0-3.2026-09-19
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Frequently asked questions
What team does Zaire McKinney play for?
Zaire McKinney plays for Northern Illinois, wearing #88 at WR.
What position does Zaire McKinney play?
Zaire McKinney is a WR for Northern Illinois.
How tall is Zaire McKinney?
Zaire McKinney is 6-4 and weighs 195 lb.
What year is Zaire McKinney in?
Zaire McKinney is listed as a freshman on the Northern Illinois roster.
Where is Zaire McKinney from?
Zaire McKinney is from Michigan City, IN.
How many receptions does Zaire McKinney have?
Zaire McKinney has 2 receptions in the 2026 season. Full numbers are in the stats above.