Recruiting: Ohio DE Liam McKenna picks Army over Navy, Air Force offers

Liam McKenna held the option to play football at Army, Navy and Air Force.

How did McKenna know Army was the right service academy for him?

“It was the only academy I visited not wanting to leave,” said McKenna, a defensive end from Elder High School in Cincinnati. He visited Navy and was invited to Air Force but didn’t go due to other scheduled visits. “It felt like home and it felt that if I wanted to be the best version of myself then this was the place to go.”

After visiting Army Friday, McKenna committed to coach Jeff Monken and recruiting coach Blake Powers Monday.

“The reasons I committed (to Army) was that every person there was a winner, coaches, players and recruits,” McKenna said. “I’d get an excellent education at the No. 1 public school in the country and I’d get to play big-time football.”

McKenna wouldn’t be in this position if it wasn’t for Elder offensive line coach Craig James. James watched McKenna play in a city championship basketball game his eighth grade year and encouraged him to join Elder’s team.

“He (James) is the reason that I’m playing football,” McKenna said. “Up until that point, I’d only play soccer and once I got to high school, I joined the football team.”