Alabama's Wide Receivers Prepare Kool-Aid McKinstry To Lead New-Look Secondary

Popular preseason All-American pick at cornerback doesn't have to look far to be regularly challenged on the field.

The Alabama Crimson Tide football program enters 2023 in a state of transition after losing leaders from all three levels of its defense from the previous year. But even without the likes of Will Anderson Jr., Henry To'o To'o and Jordan Battle, the challenges is to be even better. 

That includes the defensive backs, who are poised to benefit from the experience, skill and leadership of Kool-Aid McKinstry.

McKinstry, now entering his third season in the Nick Saban secondary is the veteran in charge of ensuring the coverages are consistent and correct. The play-calls will still be under the direction of the safeties, but Battle, Brian Branch and DeMarcco Hallams have all moved on to the NFL.

"Coming up under them and learning the defense and learning how those guys did things and the ways that they took was very big for me to help me pass down to the younger guys that's coming behind me," McKinstry said. 

The Pinson Valley High School alum spent a good part of SEC Media Days crediting the Alabama wide receivers for preparing him to perform at such a high level.

Current NFL receivers John Metchie III and Jameson Williams tore apart the SEC while McKinstry was a freshman, pushing the young corner to his limits and providing him experience against top-level competition. 

"I feel like I face some of the best guys playing around on my team like Jay-Mo, guys like Metchie because those guys are just different," McKinstry said. "I was so young. Me having an opportunity to check Jay-Mo as a freshman and Metchie as a freshman, it was very big to me."

The Crimson Tide saw a sizable dip in production from its wide receivers in 2022 after losing Willams and Metchie, but there's cautious optimism that the 2023 receivers will bounce back and become a major strength once again for the Alabama offense.

The 2022 First Team All-SEC corner was quick to compliment this latest group and credit their hard work during the offense.

"All those guys have their own ways," he said. "All those guys give me a challenge. We've guys who are route-runners, you've got guys who are deep-threats, you've got guys who release. I feel like every receiver on our team has their own style, has their own way so I know going against this guy, he's going to release well so that's helping me improve when I'm facing a receiver who's got releases or if I'm facing a guy who can run routes well and I've got to play a guy in the game that runs routes well, it's already been there. All those guys give me a challenge."

McKinstry feels like each player tests his skillsets and challenges him in a different way, no matter if he is facing Ja'Corey Brooks, Jermaine Burton, Isaiah Bond, Malik Benson or any of the highly touted newcomers on the Tide's roster

"I love going against all of them," said McKinstry. "They are all different. By all them being different, it's better than me working on this because this guy might be better at this, that guy might be better at that. I think every play is helping my game get better. I'm very thankful for those guys."

See Also: 

Alabama OLB Dallas Turner Feels He is the Best Defensive Player in the SEC

Is Georgia the New Alabama? How Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs are Battling Complacency

Director of Alabama Athletic Grounds Jon DeWitt on The Joe Gaither Show: Episode 42, July 18, 2023