Kool-Aid McKinstry's Elite Football IQ Makes Him One of the Top Cornerback Prospects

The Alabama Cornerback spoke to reporters Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine.

INDIANAPOLIS — Alabama's Kool-Aid McKinstry is set to be one of the first cornerbacks off the board in April at the NFL Draft.

The All-American corner was unable to participate in drills at the NFL Combine due to team examiners discovering a Jones fracture in his right foot. However, he did speak to the media in Indianapolis on Thursday morning.

The injury is not expected to prevent McKinstry from working out at Alabama's Pro Day and he should be fully recovered by the beginning of training camp in August.

No matter the injury, the NFL team that selects McKinstry will be adding an intelligent, instinctive defender.

"(I have) great IQ and just a real football player who understands the game," McKinstry said Thursday.

In team interviews, NFL general managers, scouts and coaching staffs have been curious about McKinstry's upbringing in Birmingham, his high school career with Pinson Valley high school, and his time in Tuscaloosa.

"Everyone just really wanted to know my background and know my upbringing in high school, why I chose what college I went to."

In his time at Alabama, he was expected to obtain an expansive knowledge of both slot and boundary corner that he expects to assist him in his NFL career.

"I feel like I can play in the slot because (of) just the training I had at Bama, you have to know everything, you have to know how to be able to play everywhere and i feel like I'm physical enough on the edge to set the edge.

McKinstry feels confident that he could excel in any role that his future team requested him to play.

"I feel like I can play the slot and guard whoever's in the slot, whether that's a fast or a quick guy. I feel like my knowledge and understanding (of) leverage as a nickel is at a high level."

One area where McKinstry is looking to improve his performance is by playing physical no matter his alignment or the offensive play call.

"The biggest challenge I would say is probably just staying consistent in physicality. Just being physical play in, play out, whether it's run or pass. Just understanding your assignment because in the inside, one play you're like a linebacker, which you got to set the edge and be physical and shoot the gaps. Next play you may have to be covering like you're a corner."

McKinstry will find out where his pro career will begin during the 2024 NFL Draft, which begins on April 25.

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