2023 Football Roster
Kool-Aid McKinstry
- Position:
- DB
- Height:
- 6-1
- Weight:
- 195
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Birmingham, Ala.
- High School:
- Pinson Valley
2023
One of the nation's top corners who also contributed at punt returner ... selected as a first team All-American by the Associated Press and The Sporting News ... also named a first-teamer by CBS Sports, Pro Football Focus, Sports Illustrated and USA Today ... garnered second team All-America accolades by the AFCA and Walter Camp ... also tabbed as a second team All-American by The Athletic ... earned first team All-SEC honors from the AP and conference coaches ... broke up seven passes to go with 32 tackles, including two for loss (-4 yards) ... also returned 14 punts for 86 combined yards with a long gain of 33 ... selected as a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented each year to the nation's top defensive back ... also named a semifinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy ... earned midseason All-America honors at corner from CBS Sports and USA Today while being named to the AP's first team ... selected to the watch lists for the Bednarik, Lott and Nagurski - all presented to the nation's top defender ... also tabbed to the Thorpe Watch List ... named to the Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List ... a preseason first team All-American by the AP, CBS, PFF, SI and Walter Camp ... also tabbed as a second-teamer by PFF at return specialist ... one of ESPN.com's preseason All-Americans ... selected as one of the UA coaching staff's special teams players of the week for his efforts against Middle Tennessee ... named a defensive player of the week by the Tide coaches for his play against Ole Miss. Middle Tennessee: Returned five punts for a combined 66 yards ... recorded a long return of 33 yards to set up an eventual Crimson Tide touchdown ... also contributed three tackles from his starting corner spot on defense. Texas: Totaled five tackles and a pass breakup against the Longhorns. USF: Recorded one tackle and a pass breakup in the non-conference pairing. Ole Miss: Helped UA's secondary limit the high-powered Rebel offense to only 245 yards passing and 10 total points ... recorded three tackles, including one for loss (-2 yards), while adding a pass breakup. Mississippi State: Did not allow a completion on the night, breaking up one pass ... played a key role in limiting the Bulldogs to only 107 yards passing. Texas A&M: Registered five tackles on the day. Arkansas: Returned one punt for a gain of 11 yards ... added one tackle from his corner post. Tennessee: Broke up one pass and added two tackles against the Vols ... also returned one punt for no gain. LSU: Posted one tackle on the night. Kentucky: Totaled three tackles, including half a stop for loss (-2 yards), to go with one pass breakup ... added two punt returns for a combined 22 yards. Chattanooga: Returned one punt against the Mocs while also continuing his work at corner. Auburn: Recorded one tackle in the Iron Bowl as the Tigers avoided throwing in his direction. Georgia: Had his day cut short due to injury ... contributed two tackles, including half a stop for loss, to go with one pass breakup prior to his exit. Michigan: Totaled five tackles in the Rose Bowl.
2022
Returned to his starting spot at corner in year two while also handling punt return duties ... earned first team All-America honors from Pro Football Focus at cornerback ... named a second team All-American at corner by the AFCA and The Sporting News ... also a second-team corner by CBS Sports and a third-team honoree on defense according to the Associated Press ... picked up second-team honors as a punt returner by the FWAA and was tabbed a third-teamer at punt returner by PFF ... selected to the All-SEC First Team as a defensive back by both the AP and the league coaches ... also picked up second team All-SEC honors from the conference coaches as a return specialist ... ranked second among Division I punt returners with 332 yards ... averaged 15.8 yards per return, good for second in the nation and tops in the SEC ... returned 21 punts with a long of 45 ... totaled 35 tackles from his corner post, including two tackles for loss (-16 yards) and one sack (-12 yards) ... also contributed a team-high 15 pass breakups to go with two fumble recoveries and an interception that he returned 26 yards ... named a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award, presented annually to the nation's top defensive player ... selected as a midseason All-American by TSN ... named one of the special teams players of the week by the Alabama coaching staff for his play against ULM and at Arkansas ... earned defensive player of the week accolades from the Tide coaches for his efforts in Fayetteville. Utah State: Broke up one pass in his start against the Aggies ... also assumed punt return duties, combining for 20 yards on three returns. Texas: Recorded a career-high seven tackles, including one for loss (-12 yards), to go with a pass breakup ... added two punt returns for no gain. ULM: Contributed to the Tide's 262 combined punt return yards to break the previous school record of 204 that was set in 1947 ... accumulated 136 yards on five punts to average 27.2 yards per return ... his 136 punt return yards were the third-most in Alabama single-game history. Vanderbilt: Broke up a career-high three passes while contributing three tackles on defense ... also racked up 91 yards on four punt returns. Arkansas: Earned defensive and special teams player of the week accolades from the Tide coaches for his standout play in Fayetteville ... recorded six tackles, including one for loss (-4 yards), and a pair of pass breakups on defense ... returned three punts for a total of 77 yards with a long gain of 45. Texas A&M: Totaled two tackles against the Aggies ... also returned one punt for no gain. Tennessee: Targeted once in the game and did not allow a completion. Mississippi State: Broke up a career-high four passes to go with four tackles against the Bulldogs. LSU: Recorded two tackles and added one pass breakup in Baton Rouge. Ole Miss: Finished with two tackles against the Rebels. Austin Peay: Picked off his first pass of the season, returning the interception 26 yards, to go with three tackles on defense ... added one punt return for a 10-yard gain. Auburn: Recorded four tackles to go with one punt return in the Iron Bowl. Kansas State: Broke up a game-high three passes to go with one tackle in the Sugar Bowl.
2021
Earned a role in the Tide's deep secondary unit during fall camp ... selected to the Freshman All-SEC Team by the conference coaches ... recorded 25 tackles, including one sack (-13 yards) ... also notched one interception and a pass breakup across his 15 games of action ... selected as one of the defensive players of the week by the UA coaching staff for his efforts against Mercer. Miami: Saw his first collegiate playing time. Mercer: Made his first start of the season ... totaled six tackles to tie for second on the UA defense ... also picked off his first career pass and added one pass breakup. Florida: Recorded one tackle on special teams against the Gators. Southern Miss: Finished with one tackle on the night. Ole Miss: Saw time on special teams against the Rebels. Texas A&M: Earned minutes in College Station. Mississippi State: Worked on defense and special teams against the Bulldogs. Tennessee: Saw time in the Homecoming matchup. LSU: Got the starting nod against the Tigers ... finished with one tackle on the night. New Mexico State: Earned minutes on defense and special teams. Arkansas: Entered in a pinch and stepped up to the challenge ... recorded two tackles from his corner spot. Auburn: Got the starting nod in the Iron Bowl ... recorded two tackles, including a huge sack (-13 yards) late in the game ... also broke up the Tigers' two-point try in the fourth overtime to give UA the ball back in position to win. Georgia: Made a second straight start at corner for the Tide ... finished with three tackles on the day. Cincinnati: Totaled five tackles in his start at the Cotton Bowl. Georgia: Finished with four tackles against the Bulldogs.
High School and Personal Data
Widely considered the top cornerback in the 2021 signing class ... a five-star on the 247Composite ... ranks as the nation's No. 23 overall player on the 247Composite, the No. 1 corner and the top player in Alabama ... the No. 18 player nationally in the Top247 by 247Sports and the site's top-ranked cornerback ... rivals.com ranks him 46th nationally, as the No. 2 cornerback and as the No. 1 recruit in Alabama ... a four-star recruit and No. 38 in the ESPN300 according to ESPN.com ... the No. 4 athlete, No. 2 player in Alabama and No. 17 player in the Southeast Region by ESPN ... No. 13 on the PrepStar Top 150 Dream Team and the publication's No. 1 cornerback and top player in his state ... selected to the Under Armour All-America Game roster ... earned Alabama all-state honors from Max Preps ... played for head coach Sam Shade at Pinson Valley High School ... a playmaker on both sides of the football, leading the Indians to the Alabama 6A State Championship in 2020 and three titles in the last four years ... chose Alabama over Auburn and LSU.
