James MacKinney is a defensive lineman for the Air Force Falcons who hails from Salina, Kansas, where he attended Salina Central High School. At the prep level, MacKinney lettered three years and earned second-team all-league honors as a junior with 50 total tackles, four sacks and 13 tackles for loss. He was named unanimous first-team all-league as a senior after recording 70 tackles, 6.5 sacks and 23 tackles for loss, and received honorable mention all-state recognition. A Kansas Shrine Bowl selection and Buddy McConnell Award winner, MacKinney is a business major currently on the roster as a sophomore.