Kool-Aid McKinstry

Ga'Quincy "Kool-Aid" McKinstry (born September 30, 2002) is an American professional football cornerback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He was named the 2021 USA Today High School Football Defensive Player of the Year before playing college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he was named an All-American in 2023.

Kool-Aid McKinstry

McKinstry with Alabama in 2021
No. 14 – New Orleans Saints
Position:	Cornerback
Personal information
Born:	(2002-09-30) September 30, 2002 (age 22) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	199 lb (90 kg)
Career information
High school:	Pinson Valley (Pinson, Alabama)
College:	Alabama (2021–2023)
NFL draft:	2024 / round: 2 / pick: 41
Career history
New Orleans Saints (2024–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
First-team All-American (2023) 2× first-team All-SEC (2022, 2023)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 14, 2024
Tackles: 27 Pass deflections: 5 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

McKinstry grew up in Birmingham, Alabama and attended Pinson Valley High School in Pinson, Alabama.^[1] He was named Alabama Mr. Football as a senior after breaking up 12 passes with two interceptions, both of which he returned for touchdowns, on defense and catching 45 passes for 706 yards and 11 touchdowns on offense.^[2] He was named the USA Today Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.^[3] McKinstry was rated a five-star recruit and committed to play college football at Alabama.^[4]

College career

McKinstry played college football at Alabama from 2021 to 2023.^[5] McKinstry played in every game, and was named to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) All-Freshman team, making 25 tackles with a sack and one interception.^[6][7] He led the SEC in passes defended in the 2022 season with 15.^[8] He was named as a first team All-American by the Associated Press for the 2023 season.^[9] He declared for the 2024 NFL draft following the 2023 season in which he was named first-team All-American.^[10]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	Vertical jump	Broad jump
5 ft 11+1⁄2 in (1.82 m)	199 lb (90 kg)	32 in (0.81 m)	8+1⁄2 in (0.22 m)	4.47 s	1.44 s	2.72 s	34.5 in (0.88 m)	10 ft 1 in (3.07 m)
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[11][12]

On March 1, 2024, it was revealed that McKinstry was diagnosed with a fracture in his right foot, preventing him from taking part at the Combine, but he later stated that he would still participate in the Pro Day activities.^[13] McKinstry was selected by the New Orleans Saints with the 41st pick in the 2024 NFL draft.^[14]

Personal life

McKinstry was nicknamed "Kool-Aid" by his grandmother as a baby because his smile reminded her of the Kool-Aid Man.^[15] He signed a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deal with Kool-Aid as a freshman at Alabama.^[16]

References

1. Polacek, Scott (July 19, 2020). "5-Star CB Ga'Quincy McKinstry Names Final 3 Teams Featuring Alabama, Auburn, LSU". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
2. "Alabama signee Ga'Quincy McKinstry is Mr. Football for state". The Gadsden Times. January 17, 2021. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
3. Rodak, Mike (August 5, 2021). "McKinstry wins national awards, surprised by Gronk". al. Archived from the original on August 14, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
4. Thomas, Ben (October 25, 2020). "Top 2021 prospect Ga'Quincy McKinstry commits to Tide over Auburn, LSU". AL.com. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
5. "Kool-Aid McKinstry College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
6. Windham, Katie (August 9, 2022). "Kool-Aid McKinstry Confident Heading into Sophomore Season". SI.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
7. Rodak, Mike (August 10, 2022). "What Kool-Aid McKinstry told his mom he wanted to do at Alabama". AL.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
8. "2022 SEC Leaders". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
9. "2023 Associated Press All-America Team". AP News. December 11, 2023. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
10. Edholm, Eric (January 4, 2024). "Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry announces he intends to enter 2024 NFL Draft". NFL.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
11. "Kool-Aid McKinstry Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
12. "2024 NFL Draft Scout Kool-Aid McKinstry College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
13. Patra, Kevin (March 1, 2024). "Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry has Jones fracture in right foot, won't work out at combine". NFL.com. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
14. Smith, Michael David (April 27, 2024). "Saints trade up for Kool-Aid McKinstry at No. 41". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
15. Gatto, Tom (June 12, 2021). "Alabama has a defensive back named Kool-Aid McKinstry". Sporting News. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
16. Scarborough, Alex (August 18, 2021). "Alabama Crimson Tide freshman Ga'Quincy 'Kool-Aid' McKinstry signs NIL deal with drink company". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.

External links

• Kool-Aid McKinstry on Twitter
• New Orleans Saints bio
• Alabama Crimson Tide bio