Defensive lineman Keshawn Harrington-McKinney (92) has been a mainstay in the Western Illinois football program since his freshman season in 2023. (Photo by GoLeathernecks.com)
By Dan Verdun
MACOMB – Defensive lineman Keshawn Harrington-McKinney has been a part of Western Illinois Leatherneck football since his redshirt freshman season in 2023.
That means he was there for 14 of the program’s 27-game losing streak.
Yet the Rockford native has played a role in WIU’s resurgence under third-year head coach Joe Davis. The Leathernecks finished last fall with three wins in their last four games. In addition, WIU opened this season with a win against NAIA Northwestern (Iowa) College Thursday night at Hanson Field.
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 300 pounds, Harrington-McKinney remains a force on the field and in the locker room. He serves as one of the WIU team captains this season.
“I’ve developed into more of a leadership role,” Harrington-McKinney told Prairie State Pigskin. “I’d say the majority of the guys look up to me. (Offensive lineman) Dorian (Arguelles) and I have been here the longest, so guys look at us and give respect. I try to take that leadership and roll with it.”
Davis recognized Harrington-McKinney’s contributions during Ohio Valley Conference media day.
“Keshawn has played a lot of football here on the defensive side. When we made the shift to more of a three-down front late in the (2025) season, that really paid dividends for us. It allowed us to get some of our longer, more athletic players on the edges.”
Harrington-McKinney shares his preference for talking on the phone rather than texting as well as his affection for calming pregame music and Disney movies in our weekly Moving the Chains Q&A.
Do you consider yourself a morning or night person?
I’m more of a night person. I used to be a morning person when I was younger. There’s a couple different reasons. I enjoy my sleep a little bit more now. With fall camp especially, I feel like (night time) is my time to connect with my family and other players. Morning is filled with waking up, going to lifts and meetings. I prefer the night a little more now.
If you had unlimited funds, what is a hobby you would like to pursue?
I’d probably say (video) gaming. I’d just do streaming or something like that.
Do you prefer podcasts or music?
Music, definitely. I’m a big music person. I’ve got almost 100 hours of music that I listen to. I put my playlist on shuffle and listen to anything and everything.
Do you have a game day playlist?
Not really a playlist but I have an artist, Rod Wave, that I listen to calm my nerves down and get into the flow state. It helps me go out and play relaxed.
Many players like pregame music to be more edgy and upbeat. Why do you prefer yours to be calming?
If I’m too excited or too rah-rah, I feel like I burn out quickly. When I play cool and calm, I play a little bit better.
What is your favorite thing that a Western coach has said in your time here?
Coach Davis’ pregame speeches really fire me up every time. He always says if you don’t know anything, go and lay it all out there.
So you go from calming music to fiery Coach Davis’ pregame talk.
And then you just go out there (laughs).
What is your favorite movie or series genre to watch?
I grew up on a lot of Disney movies. Whenever a new Disney movie comes out, my family always sits down to watch it.
Recently, I’ve been growing more into action movies. The new Spider-Man was a good one. I love the Marvel movies.
Do you have a favorite Disney movie?
I’d have to say “Moana,” that’s a good one.
Do you prefer texting or calling?
Calling. Don’t text me, call me. I hate texting. I actually get yelled at a lot because I don’t respond to text messages.
Is that unusual for guys your age?
I do feel it’s unusual. A lot of people want to text me, but I tell them not to text me. Call me. That’s even for the guys on the team. If I’m picking you up for a lift or something, I always tell them to call me. Don’t text me because I’ll forget.
Who is the best singer in the locker room?
I haven’t necessarily heard anyone sing, but J-Rob (running back Josh Robinson) said that he’s definitely a singer, so I’m going to take his word for it.
If you could have any superhero power, what would it be?
Teleportation. I would just go everywhere. I would explore the world.
What is a life lesson that you learned the hard way?
You don’t have to speak in every situation. Growing up, I kind of had a mouth on me a little bit. I was one to talk back and have to have the last word, but I learned that doesn’t get you anywhere.
That’s true with football too. You don’t get anywhere. You get in trouble. You get put on breakfast club or punishments on the team. You don’t need to say something in every situation. You can just sit there and be coachable and roll with it.
You are from Rockford. If a teammate came home with you, what are must-see places you would take them to?
The Burpee Museum (of Natural History). I grew up going there. They’ve got Jane the Dinosaur (the world’s most complete and best-preserved juvenile tyrannosaur skeleton). That’s a core memory for me. I was always there.
The Discovery Center Museum was a big part of my childhood too. Those are must-sees in Rockford.
The iconic Rockford Beef-a-Roo restaurant recently closed. How do you feel about that?
(Exhales) Oh, Beef-a-Roo! That’s hurtful. I grew up on Beef-a-Roo.
Who is somebody that has impacted your life in a positive way?
My father. Growing up, I saw him work a lot. We struggled with money situations, but I feel like my father really shined a light in my life. He showed me not to give up. He showed me that there are times you’ve got to work two or three jobs just to get back. He taught me as long as you stay consistent, good things will happen.
Dan Verdun is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin. He has written four books: NIU Huskies Football, EIU Panthers Football, ISU Redbirds Football and SIU Salukis Football.
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