Daleville’s McKenzie signs with Birmingham Southern

Versatile Daleville football player Sincere McKenzie signed his letter-of-intent to play football at Birmingham Southern College at a signing ceremony on March 16.

McKenzie has been one of the most versatile players in the Wiregrass over the past three years having started at linebacker, safety, cornerback, running back and receiver during his Daleville career. He has also been a punter and kickoff returner. Over the past three years McKenzie amassed 1,131 yards and 10 touchdowns rushing, 334 yards and two touchdowns receiving and 575 kickoff return yards. He also totaled 106 tackles, nine tackles-for-loss, one sack, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries on defense. In 2019, McKenzie converted 17 two-point attempts, which is the third most in a single season in state history.

McKenzie has also been a basketball star at Daleville for the past three seasons and earned All-Area Tournament honors in 2020 and 2021.

Despite a frustrating 2020 football season due to COVID-19 and a lack of numbers on the Warhawk football team, McKenzie was still proud of his teammates.

“It was crazy this year but I still stuck it out with my team,” McKenzie said. “We could only do so much with the amount of guys we had but I gave my best and they gave their best and they stuck it out with me for my senior year. So, I have nothing but love for my team.”

After a tough season, signing to play college football was a big moment for the senior athlete.

“It felt pretty good to sign today,” McKenzie said. “Knowing that my football career is up in Daleville it just feels good to be able to start a new chapter in my life. I’m just happy to be able to keep playing football at the next level.”

McKenzie said when he looks back on his time at Daleville the thing that will stick out most is the summer workouts with his teammates.

“My favorite memories in Daleville would probably be the summer workouts,” McKenzie said with a smile. “It was always fun and challenging and seeing the coaches and players yelling back and forth at each other and wanting to quit at different times is funny to look back on, but we all stuck it out and everybody worked hard.”

McKenzie will be playing slot receiver at Birmingham Southern, where he said the coaches and players at the school made him feel like he was at home on his visit.

“When I went up there for the visit all the people up there treated me really well and I got to meet other kinds of people and it was really great,” McKenzie said. “I think it’s going to be a different style of football that will challenge me to be better than the next person. I like the way the coaches there made me feel like I was home and I just wanted to go there. I’m going to work for my spot and I’m going to be the hardest worker there.”