Broncos rookie wide receiver and punt returner Isaiah McKenzie has been the buzz of training camp through the first five days, particularly because he’s been buzzing around defenders and making big plays.
After three days of camp McKenzie switched numbers, going from No. 5 to No. 84. As Eric Goodman and Les Shapiro of Mile High Sports AM 1340 | FM 104.7 point out, that’s a very good sign for McKenzie.
Goodman and Shapiro caught up with the fifth-round pick out of Georgia after Monday’s morning practice and it was clear that he’s feeling confident through the first two practices in full pads.
“No way,” McKenzie said when asked if anyone on the team could tackle him in the open field.
“I’m too small to take one-on-one shots,” he noted, especially if given a 5-yard cushion.
While Goodman and Shapiro had plenty of praise to heap on the young wideout, they’re not the only ones taking notice.
“I get multiple compliments from [Aqib] Talib, T.J. [Ward], the ‘No Fly Zone’ guys, DBs, receivers. You know, Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, they tell me I’m doing a good job,” McKenzie said. “It’s a lot of compliments, but nothing overwhelming.”
The rookie is feeling confident, even enough to say that he’s ready to take on Talib, an All-Pro, one-on-one. If given that all-important 5-yard cushion, McKenzie said he feels confident telling Talib he’s getting past him.
“I’m definitely comfortable about that,” he said. “I haven’t done it; I haven’t gone against him yet, so he’ll find out soon.”
Just five training camp days into his NFL career, it’s clear McKenzie isn’t lacking confidence. Perhaps it’s the kind of confidence that will land him a spot on the 53-man roster come September.
Listen to the full interview with McKenzie, including what he says makes his receiving skills so dangerous, in the podcast below.
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Catch Afternoon Drive with Goodman and Shapiro every weekday from 4p-6p on Mile High Sports AM 1340 | FM 104.7 or stream live any time for the best local coverage of Colorado sports from Denver’s biggest sports talk lineup.
