Kenny McKinley remembered fondly at South Cobb and South Carolina

McKinley, who was on injured reserve with the Denver Broncos this season, was in the stands for South Cobb's football game Friday. The previous weekend, McKinley attended South Carolina's win over Georgia and talked with his former coaches and teammates.

On Monday, McKinley, 23, died of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head at his Denver home.

"All I can think about Kenny is him always grinning from ear to ear and being a happy-go-lucky kid," former South Cobb coach Shane Queen said. "He was always a magnet for other kids because of his character and outgoing personality. All of this … just doesn't make sense."

"It’s hard to comprehend,” South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier told The State newspaper in Columbia. "Kenny was one of my favorite all-time players. ... Wonderful guy. It’s hard to figure how or why it happened ... It’s a sad day, a sad day."

McKinley is South Carolina's career leader in receptions (207), receiving yards (2,781) and consecutive games with a reception (43). The sure-handed wide receiver was selected by the Broncos in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL draft.

At Denver, McKinley had a promising start to his career on special teams, but suffered a season-ending knee injury in the next-to-last game of his rookie season. He was placed on injured reserve by the Broncos again last month after another knee injury.

However, everywhere McKinley went, he made people smile, on and off the field.

"We've all seen him the same way. He's been the same guy," Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said. "I saw him not even a couple of weeks ago in the cafeteria ... he was happy, smiling."

McKinley and his quarterbacks coach for his four seasons at South Cobb, Derek Cook, remained close friends. Cook and his wife flew to Denver to watch McKinley play for the Broncos last year. The two often talked over the phone and traded text messages.

"I’m shocked, devastated and in total disbelief because Kenny was one of the most pleasant and happy young men that I’ve ever been around,” said Cook, now the head coach at Kell. “Even when Kenny got in trouble at football practice and had to run, he was still smiling and laughing. I just can’t understand [his death] or believe it."

As a senior at South Cobb in 2005, McKinley played quarterback and threw for 1,470 yards and 16 touchdowns, while rushing for 750 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was ranked as the nation’s No. 54 athlete by Rivals.

“When he was a freshman, I wanted Kenny to go to the press box with me so he could see what I saw," Cook recalled. "This was South Cobb’s first varsity game, and Kenny wasn’t on the varsity yet. Kenny is supposed to be studying the game and writing things down. I look over at him and he’s eating chicken wings from the food table. I’m thinking ‘Golly, I’m trying to get his talented freshman to learn something and he’s up here eating food.’

"As it turned out, the next week he was our starting quarterback on the varsity. In one week, he went from eating chicken wings in the press box to leading our football team on the field -- and he had a great first game. He was smiling and laughing all the way. He was a special player and a special person."

The Broncos will have a moment of silence before Sunday's game for McKinley. At South Carolina, Spurrier will consult older players and captains before deciding on a tribute, according to The State.

South Cobb is out of school this week because of fall break, and has a bye week in football. Koester said he will meet with school officials next week to discuss possible ways to recognize McKinley.

"When we talked everything over with our players at practice, we told them the plans right now were to honor the family by keeping them in our thoughts and prayers," Koester said. "Before we do anything further than that, we want to check with [McKinley's] family."