Nick Saban was first, but everyone now sees the huge potential of Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry.
Coach Saban raved about him during spring practice, and defensive coordinator Pete Golding spoke on him at Sunday’s media day for Alabama football. He likes McKinstry’s size, length, quickness, speed, versatility, ball skills, and toughness. Golding has been impressed by the freshman’s physicality in practice. McKinstry loves to jam wide receivers and stick his nose into plays.
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After gaining 10 pounds in the summer program, moving from 180 to 190 lbs., the five-star has an opportunity to start opposite senior Josh Jobe at cornerback. Currently, McKinstry is competing with Jalyn Armour-Davis for the starting position.
Jordan Battle and Will Anderson Jr. both discussed Kool-Aid during Tuesday’s player interviews.
Battle, a junior safety, has a chance to become a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He is one of the leaders in Alabama’s secondary, but he sees McKinstry growing quickly.
“Kool-Aid (McKinstry) is a great player,” Battle said. “He’s very smart in the field. He’s very disciplined, he wants to learn and he’s a great player. He’s gonna be a great player for us in the future, and I only see him getting better.”
Anderson, a sophomore linebacker, knows a lot about preseason hype. He, like McKinstry, was a highly-touted five-star in the 2020 recruiting cycle. Anderson handled the attention well, as he took home Freshman All-SEC, Freshman All-American, and Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year honors. According to Anderson, McKinstry has maturely handled the freshman hype.
“He is very humble,” Anderson said. “He comes to practice hungry every day. He’s enthusiastic. He brings a lot of energy and is very coachable.”
Anderson agreed with thoughts from Battle and Golding on McKinstry’s physicality.
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“He likes to have fun and put his nose in any play that we have,” Anderson said. “He flies around, and that is what football at Alabama is about. We fly around, have fun, and hit people.”
The 6-foot-1 defensive back was a three-time state champion at Pinson (Ala.) Valley High School.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
