By Taylor Holley

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Cory McKinney has high hopes for his football future. After a dominating performance in the Daytona Beach Thunder's World Indoor Football opener against Augusta, McKinney has some game film to back his claim.

McKinney pulled down a game leading 116 receiving yards and added a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

"I’m working really hard this year, because I see this league as a building block for my future,” McKinney said.

McKinney has been working extra time to make his football dreams come true. He sees himself playing football in Europe or Canada, ‘wherever the road takes him.’

In order to reach that level, he realizes that he must work on his route running, intensity off the ball and ability to get extra yardage. A speed receiver on college, McKinney is now working on going to the inside and becoming a possession receiver.

“I really surprised myself out there, I can’t stop here, though, I must keep improving throughout the year,” McKinney said.  “When you are in find that the pace is so much faster than college, you have to stay focused.,” 

“We have a lot of players on this team that are ‘practice players,’ they play hard in practice and are flat on the field,” Coach Leon Bright said prior to their opening game. 

McKinney certainly doesn’t fit that stereotype. 

The Thunder (0-1) hosts the Columbus Lions on Monday, Feb. 26