Marcus McKenzie announced his commitment with BYU on December 13, 2021 (Class of 2022) and signed with the Cougs two days later for the December signing period, as reported on Twitter:
…like my father before me.” -Luke Skywalker #GoCougs 💙💙 pic.twitter.com/pVVdyCVwnL
— Marcus McKenzie (@9marcusmckenzie) December 13, 2021
McKenzie is a 6-foot-0 170-pound defensive back and wide receiver that prepped at Pine View High School (St. George, Utah), where as a senior he had 14 receptions for 253 yards and five touchdowns, a 14 yard kickoff return, 16 solo tackles and two interceptions (MaxPreps).
As a junior McKenzie had 62 solo tackles, six tackles for loss, and an interception. In a particularly impressive game against Bear River he had a kickoff strip-and-score, a pick six, five solo tackles, and two tackles for loss.
In track McKenzie has cemented his legacy as one of the fastest student athletes in the state with second place finishes in the 2021 state championships in the 100 meters (10.75), 200 meters (21.41), 400 meters (49.42), and long jump (22-01.00). He was also part of the first-place relay team in the 4×200 meter (1:26.80). Earlier in the season Marcus ran a 10.55 100 meter and a 21.10 200 meter, which is the second fastest 4A time ever (.09 seconds behind the state record). He will look to improve on those times and records this spring as a senior. McKenzie runs a 4.4 forty time and also played on the Pine View basketball team.
Marcus: UT No. 1️⃣ in the 100m
Dominique: UT No. 1️⃣ in the 200m.
All together, the McKenzie twins are taking Utah by storm in 2021🔥 @MileSplitUtah https://t.co/c5WPsriB55 pic.twitter.com/b1q3kh0Kw7— MileSplit US (@milesplit) April 29, 2021
McKenzie is rated 3-stars by 247Sports (0.8601), who ranked him the no. 11 overall prospect from Utah for the class of 2022. He got scholarship offers from Air Force, Arizona, Cal, Colorado State, Pitt, Princeton, UNLV, Utah State, and Virginia.
Originally a Virginia commit, McKenzie flipped to BYU after Virginia head coach Bronco Mendenhall announced his retirement. Marcus signed with the Cougs at the same time as his twin brother Dominique, who has graduated high school early to serve an LDS mission. Meanwhile, Marcus is finishing out the school year (and the track season) and will depart on a mission during the summer of 2022. The twins parents both competed for BYU as well, with their father Brian McKenzie playing running back for BYU in 1996-97 while their mother Salote competed for BYU in the heptathalon from 1996-2000.
I caught up with McKenzie to ask him about his recruiting.
BYU Insider: Why did you choose BYU?
McKenzie: It’s a perfect fit. It feels like home and a place where I can reach my potential. I’m looking forward to being at a place with people who have the same mindset and priorities.
BYU Insider: What other schools were showing you love in the recruiting process?
McKenzie: The recruiting process was fun. Busy, but good. I was blessed to have options with lots of great coaches and schools.
BYU Insider: What are some of your favorites?
McKenzie: I like the movies The Dark Knight and Limitless, the books Ghost and Full Mental Alchemist (Brotherhood), and I love Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
BYU Insider: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
McKenzie: I’m continually getting wise words from my parents and grandparents.
BYU Insider: Who is a current player that you seek to emulate on the field?
McKenzie: Aeneas Williams (former NFL cornerback with the Arizona Cardinals)
