Kool-Aid McKinstry
{{Short description|American football player (born 2002)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Kool-Aid McKinstry
| image = Kool-Aid McKinstry 2021.jpg
| alt =
| caption = McKinstry with Alabama in 2021
| current_team = New Orleans Saints
| number = 1
| position = Cornerback
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|9|30|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lb = 207
| high_school = Pinson Valley {{nowrap|(Pinson, Alabama)}}
| college = Alabama (2021–2023)
| draftyear = 2024
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 41
| pastteams =
- New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- First-team All-American (2023)
- 2× first-team All-SEC (2022, 2023)
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 42
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 =
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 =
| statlabel5 = Pass deflections
| statvalue5 = 6
| statlabel6 = Interceptions
| statvalue6 =
| statlabel7 = Touchdowns
| statvalue7 =
}}
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.
Early life
McKinstry grew up in Birmingham, Alabama and attended Pinson Valley High School in Pinson, Alabama.{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2900871-5-star-cb-gaquincy-mckinstry-names-final-3-teams-featuring-alabama-auburn-lsu|title=5-Star CB Ga'Quincy McKinstry Names Final 3 Teams Featuring Alabama, Auburn, LSU|first=Scott|last=Polacek|website=Bleacher Report|date=July 19, 2020|access-date=September 12, 2022|archive-date=September 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912163005/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2900871-5-star-cb-gaquincy-mckinstry-names-final-3-teams-featuring-alabama-auburn-lsu|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/sports/2021/01/17/alabama-signee-kool-aid-gaquincy-mckinstry-mr-football-state/4191254001/|title=Alabama signee Ga'Quincy McKinstry is Mr. Football for state|work=The Gadsden Times|date=January 17, 2021|access-date=September 12, 2022|archive-date=September 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912162755/https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/sports/2021/01/17/alabama-signee-kool-aid-gaquincy-mckinstry-mr-football-state/4191254001/|url-status=live}} He was named the USA Today Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.{{Cite web |last=Rodak |first=Mike |date=2021-08-05 |title=McKinstry wins national awards, surprised by Gronk |url=https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2021/08/kool-aid-mckinstry-wins-national-award-surprised-by-rob-gronkowski.html |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=al |language=en |archive-date=2022-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814151624/https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2021/08/kool-aid-mckinstry-wins-national-award-surprised-by-rob-gronkowski.html |url-status=live }} McKinstry was rated a five-star recruit and committed to play college football at Alabama.{{cite web|url=https://www.al.com/highschoolsports/2020/10/top-2021-prospect-gaquincy-mckinstry-commits-to-tide-over-auburn-lsu.html|title=Top 2021 prospect Ga'Quincy McKinstry commits to Tide over Auburn, LSU|first=Ben|last=Thomas|website=AL.com|date=October 25, 2020|access-date=September 12, 2022|archive-date=September 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912003610/https://www.al.com/highschoolsports/2020/10/top-2021-prospect-gaquincy-mckinstry-commits-to-tide-over-auburn-lsu.html|url-status=live}}
College career
McKinstry played college football at Alabama from 2021 to 2023.{{Cite web |title=Kool-Aid McKinstry College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/kool-aid-mckinstry-1.html |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/college/alabama/bamacentral/kool-aid-mckinstry-confident-heading-into-sophomore-season|title=Kool-Aid McKinstry Confident Heading into Sophomore Season|first=Katie|last=Windham|website=SI.com|date=August 9, 2022|access-date=September 11, 2022|archive-date=September 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220911153756/https://www.si.com/college/alabama/bamacentral/kool-aid-mckinstry-confident-heading-into-sophomore-season|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2022/08/what-kool-aid-mckinstry-told-his-mom-he-wanted-to-do-at-alabama.html|title=What Kool-Aid McKinstry told his mom he wanted to do at Alabama|first=Mike|last=Rodak|website=AL.com|date=August 10, 2022|access-date=September 11, 2022|archive-date=September 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220911153757/https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2022/08/what-kool-aid-mckinstry-told-his-mom-he-wanted-to-do-at-alabama.html|url-status=live}} He led the SEC in passes defended in the 2022 season with 15.{{Cite web |title=2022 SEC Leaders |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/conferences/sec/2022-leaders.html |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} He was named as a first team All-American by the Associated Press for the 2023 season.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-11 |title=2023 Associated Press All-America Team |url=https://apnews.com/article/allamerica-football-team-bb0eb274c8255ce3962521e1f9dcf447 |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=AP News |language=en}} He declared for the 2024 NFL draft following the 2023 season in which he was named first-team All-American.{{Cite web |last=Edholm |first=Eric |date=January 4, 2024 |title=Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry announces he intends to enter 2024 NFL Draft |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/alabama-cb-kool-aid-mckinstry-announces-he-intends-to-enter-2024-nfl-draft |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240108140616/https://www.nfl.com/news/alabama-cb-kool-aid-mckinstry-announces-he-intends-to-enter-2024-nfl-draft |archive-date=8 January 2024 |access-date=8 January 2024 |website=NFL.com}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 11 1/2
| weight = 199
| dash = 4.47
| ten split = 1.44
| twenty split = 2.72
| vertical = 34.5
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 1
| arm span = 32
| hand span = 8 1/2
| note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/kool-aid-mckinstry/32004d43-4b66-7314-9644-0b09c691ed50 |title=Kool-Aid McKinstry Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=March 26, 2024}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1052955&DraftYear=2024 |title=2024 NFL Draft Scout Kool-Aid McKinstry College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=March 26, 2024}}
}}
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.{{Cite web |last=Patra |first=Kevin |date=March 1, 2024 |title=Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry has Jones fracture in right foot, won't work out at combine |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/alabama-cb-kool-aid-mckinstry-dealing-with-jones-fracture-in-right-foot-won-t-work-out-at-combine |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}
McKinstry was selected by the New Orleans Saints with the 41st pick in the 2024 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Michael David |date=2024-04-27 |title=Saints trade up for Kool-Aid McKinstry at No. 41 |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/saints-trade-up-for-kool-aid-mckinstry-at-no-41 |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}
Personal life
McKinstry was nicknamed "Kool-Aid" by his grandmother as a baby because his smile reminded her of the Kool-Aid Man.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-football/news/alabama-defensive-back-named-kool-aid-mckinstry/1bapb1mw4l6oi13ftb6kcvvaq0|title=Alabama has a defensive back named Kool-Aid McKinstry|first=Tom|last=Gatto|website=Sporting News|date=June 12, 2021|access-date=September 11, 2022|archive-date=September 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220911153757/https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-football/news/alabama-defensive-back-named-kool-aid-mckinstry/1bapb1mw4l6oi13ftb6kcvvaq0|url-status=live}} He signed a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deal with Kool-Aid as a freshman at Alabama.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32045155/alabama-crimson-tide-freshman-kool-aid-mckinstry-signs-nil-deal-drink-company|title=Alabama Crimson Tide freshman Ga'Quincy 'Kool-Aid' McKinstry signs NIL deal with drink company|first=Alex|last=Scarborough|website=ESPN.com|date=August 18, 2021|access-date=September 12, 2022|archive-date=September 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912152247/https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32045155/alabama-crimson-tide-freshman-kool-aid-mckinstry-signs-nil-deal-drink-company|url-status=live}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Twitter|GaQMcK1}}
- [https://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/players-roster/kool-aid-mckinstry/ New Orleans Saints bio]
- [https://rolltide.com/sports/football/roster/kool-aid-mckinstry/8104 Alabama Crimson Tide bio]
{{USA Today DPOY}}
{{Saints2024DraftPicks}}
{{New Orleans Saints roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McKinstry, Kool-Aid}}
Category:Players of American football from Birmingham, Alabama
Category:American football cornerbacks