Kool-Aid McKinstry made five starts as a cornerback for Alabama football in 2021.
He showed the ability to be a solid boundary defender as a freshman, totaling 25 tackles, one sack, one pass breakup, and one interception through 15 games. McKinstry earned a spot on the All-Freshman Team for the Southeastern Conference, and he looks to be a lockdown corner. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder arrived on campus as a five-star via Pinson (Ala.) Valley High School.
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As a Birmingham native, McKinstry knows the success in-state talents such as Dre Kirkpatrick, Marlon Humphrey, and Mark Barron had for the Crimson Tide. Alabama fans expect him to take the next step, and a member from Nick Saban’s 2009 BCS National Championship team is training McKinstry. Justin Woodall played under Saban from 2007 to 2009.
Mike Shula recruited him from Mississippi in 2006 as a four-star safety, but Woodall blossomed under Saban.
He started all 14 games in 2009, recording 45 tackles, five breakups, and three interceptions.
Woodall now trains the next wave of college athletes and believes McKinstry will do well at Alabama. He said McKinstry will grow with experience.
“We are training on details,” Woodall said after working with McKinstry today. “In college, you don’t get a chance to go over details and technique. Growth comes with experience. I played in that defense under Coach Saban for three years. It is hard to comprehend it as a freshman, but I thought Kool-Aid did well. We are not doing anything full speed. We are working on the small stuff.”
Woodall said the goal for McKinstry is to have his feet in the right place.
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“You don’t have to be physical all the time as a corner,” Woodall said. “As long as you can make the receiver go around you, you are doing well. The purpose is keeping your feet in the right place and playing fast.”
McKinstry will have more learning experiences as he’s in his first offseason. He has an opportunity to win a starting spot at corner in spring football. His teammates spoke about his mindset and playmaking abilities, but Woodall said the weight room, learning experience, and playing fast are what McKinstry needs.
He said details are everything now.
“Everyone is an athlete now,” Woodall said. “It is about who can learn the fastest and who can master the details. Alabama brings in athletes, but details are most important.”
Athletes peak at different times. McKinstry gave people a taste in 2021, but Woodall sees much more on the horizon for him,
“All he needs to do is focus on the details,” Woodall said. “If the details match his talent, Kool-Aid will do well.”
McKinstry is preparing to have a great spring.
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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.
