Kool-Aid McKinstry is one of the best cornerback prospects due to his exceptional football IQ.
INDIANAPOLIS: Kool-Aid McKinstry of Alabama is expected to be selected among the first cornerbacks selected in the April NFL Draft.
The NFL Combine prevented the All-American cornerback from taking part in drills when team examiners found a Jones fracture in his right foot. On Thursday morning, though, he did address the media in Indianapolis.
McKinstry is expected to be fully healed by the start of training camp in August, and it is not anticipated that the injury will keep him from working out at Alabama’s Pro Day.
The NFL team that chooses McKinstry will be adding a wise, perceptive defender regardless of the injury.
McKinstry declared on Thursday, “(I have) a great IQ and just a real football player who understands the game.”
NFL general managers, scouts, and coaching staffs have been interested in learning about McKinstry’s Birmingham upbringing, his time at Pinson Valley High School, and his time in Tuscaloosa during team interviews.
Everyone was genuinely interested in learning about my history, my high school upbringing, and the reasons behind my college choice.”
He was expected to gain extensive knowledge of both slot and boundary corners during his time at Alabama, which he hopes will help him in his NFL career.
“Just from my training at Bama, I feel like I can play in the slot; you have to know everything to be able to play everywhere, and I feel like I’m physically strong enough to set the edge.”
McKinstry is sure he could be a great addition to any team that asks him to fill a role.
“I think I can guard the person in the slot, whether he’s quick or fast, and play the slot. I consider myself to have very high level knowledge and comprehension of leverage as a nickel.”
Playing physically regardless of alignment or the offensive play call is one way McKinstry wants to enhance his game.
The hardest thing, in my opinion, is probably just continuing to be physically consistent. Simply engaging in physical activity—running or passing—plays in and plays out. Just being aware of your responsibilities because, on the inside, in a single play, you have the same responsibilities as a linebacker: setting the edge, being physical, and shooting gaps. You might need to cover like a corner in the next play.”
During the 2024 NFL Draft, which starts on April 25, McKinstry will learn where his professional career will start.
