Denver Broncos: Isaiah McKenzie A Boost To Special Teams

In the 2017 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos went retro “Mike McCoy” with pick of Isaiah McKenzie retracing its roots back to Trindon Holliday days in Denver.

“He’s so little!”

This quote from the movie “Rudy” exemplifies Denver Broncos wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie even as a special team’s talent. McKenzie’s heart and guts prove he is worthy to be the player Trindon Holliday once was in Denver from 2012-2013. Holliday provided plenty of firepower to the most historic offense the NFL ever seen on special teams.

Holliday totaled four regular season touchdowns. But the buzz of his time in a Broncos uniform is his performance against the Baltimore Ravens in 2013. A kickoff and punt return at key moments left fans speechless, but with every excitement can come heartbreak. Listed at 5’5 162 pounds, Holliday was like a loose bowling ball giving up the possession on unfortunate fumbles. It became this liability of Holliday sealing his release from the team.

Now enter Isaiah McKenzie. McKenzie is taller and bigger, but displays the same excellent awareness of Holliday to see daylight and take it to the house. While at Georgia, McKenzie racked up six total touchdowns (Five on punts and one on kickoffs) in just three years with the Bulldogs.

Becasue McKenzie is small, he sees it as an opportunity to make guys miss and be that home run hitter.

“Making guys miss is something I do very well, and I plan on doing it a lot at this level. I’m very small, so it’s not that hard,” said McKenzie regarding his elusiveness.

Yet, the wild card to McKenzie’s game unlike Holliday is potential versatility in the passing attack. The height and weight of McKenzie gives the Broncos a Taylor Gabriel in the offense. In an offense that struggled to find the big play, McKenzie is the right man to do it. However, this is all familiar to to McKenzie. He sees a similar style to play receiver like his time in Georgia.

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“Playing receiver here is kind of similar to playing it at Georgia. I just had to learn the terminology of the plays and learning from the other guys has really helped me out,” quoted McKenzie.

One thing is certain, McKenzie is a potential fan favorite if he brings that same excitement to Training Camp.