COLLEGE CAREER – When the New Orleans Saints drafted Kool-Aid McKinstry with their second round pick (41st overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft, the team added one of college football's top corners and elite punt returners. McKinstry played three seasons for Alabama, where he recorded 92 tackles, five stops for loss, two sacks, two interceptions and 25 passes defensed. In two seasons (2022-23) as the Tide's primary punt returner, he returned 35 punts for 418 yards (11.9 avg.).
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed to a four-year contract, 5/31/24; Selected in the first round (14th overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft.
2023 – One of nation's top corners, who also contributed on punt returns...A consensus first-team All-American (Associated Press, The Sporting News, CBS Sports, Pro Football Focus, Sports Illustrated and USA Today). Garnered second-team All-America accolades by the AFCA, The Athletic and Walter Camp Foundation. Earned first team All-SEC honors from the AP and conference coaches. Selected as a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy...Started all 14 games and broke up seven passes to go with 32 tackles, including two for loss. Also returned 14 punts for 86 yards with a long gain of 33...In season opener vs. Middle Tennessee, returned five punts for 66 yards (13.7 avg.) to be selected as one of the coaching staff's special teams players of the week. Recorded a long punt return of 33 yards to set up an eventual Crimson Tide touchdown. Also contributed three tackles…Vs. Ole Miss, helped UA's secondary limit the high-powered Rebel offense to only 245 yards passing and ten total points. Recorded three tackles, including one for two-yard loss, while adding a pass breakup to be named a defensive player of the week by the Tide coaches…At Mississippi State, did not allow a completion on the night, breaking up one pass. Played a key role in limiting the Bulldogs to only 107 yards passing…At Kentucky, totaled three tackles, including half a stop for a two-yard loss, to go with a pass breakup. Added two punt returns for 22 yards…At Auburn, recorded one tackle in Iron Bowl as the Tigers avoided throwing in his direction…In SEC Championship victory over Georgia, had his day cut short due to injury, but contributed two tackles, including half a stop for loss, to go with a pass breakup prior to his exit…In Rose Bowl loss to Michigan, totaled five tackles. 2022 – Opened all 13 games, while also handling punt return duties…Earned first-team All-America honors from Pro Football Focus at cornerback. Named a second-team All-American at corner by the AFCA, CBS Sports and The Sporting News. Also an AP third-team honoree on defense. Picked up second-team honors as a punt returner by the FWAA and was tabbed third-team at punt returner by PFF. Selected to the All-SEC first-team as a defensive back by both the AP and conference coaches. Also picked up second-team All-SEC honors from the conference coaches as a return specialist...Ranked second among Division I punt returners with 332 yards on 21 returns with a long of 45…Averaged 15.8 yards per return, also ranked second in the nation and first in the conference...Totaled 35 tackles, including two stops for 16 yards in losses and one sack for a 12-yard loss. Also contributed a team-high 16 passes defensed and a 26-yard interception return...A Bednarik Award semifinalist, presented annually to the nation's top defensive player…At Texas, recorded a career-high seven tackles, including one stop for a 12-yard loss, to go with a pass defense…Vs. ULM, contributed to the Tide's 262 combined punt return yards to break previous school record of 204 that was set back in 1947. Accumulated 136 yards, third-most in UA single-game history on five returns (27.2 avg.)…Vs. Vanderbilt, contributed three tackles, three passes defensed and racked up 91 yards on four punt returns (22.8 avg.)…At Arkansas, earned defensive and special teams player of the week accolades from coaching staff for his standout play in Fayetteville, when he recorded six tackles, including one for a four-yard loss, and two passes defensed. Returned three punts for 77 yards (25.6 avg.) with a season-long of 45…At Tennessee, targeted once and did not allow a completion…Vs. Mississippi State, broke up a career-high four passes to go with four tackles…At LSU, recorded two tackles and one pass defense…Vs. Austin Peay, picked off his first pass of the season, returning the interception 26 yards, to go with three tackles. Added one punt return for ten yards…Vs. Auburn, had four tackles to go with one punt return in the Iron Bowl…In the Allstate Sugar Bowl 45-20 win over Kansas State, broke up a game-high three passes to go with one tackle. 2021 – As a freshman, earned a contributing role in the Crimson Tide's deep secondary unit during training camp...Selected to Freshman All-SEC Team by coaches…In 15 games with six starts, recorded 25 tackles (eight solo), including one sack for a 13-yard loss, one interception and two passes defensed...In opener against Miami, saw his first collegiate playing time…Vs. Mercer, made his first start of the season. Totaled six tackles to tie for second on the UA defense. Also picked off his first career pass and added two pass breakups to be selected as one of the team's defensive players of the week by coaching staff…At Florida, recorded a special teams tackle…Vs. LSU, got starting and finished with one tackle…Vs. Arkansas, entered in a pinch and stepped up. Recorded two tackles…At Auburn, got the starting nod in the Iron Bowl. Recorded two tackles, including a huge sack for a 13-yard loss late in game. Also broke up the Tigers' two-point try in the fourth overtime to give UA the ball back in position to win…In SEC Championship game against Georgia, made a second straight start at cornerback for the Crimson Tide. Finished with three tackles on the day…In Cotton Bowl against Cincinnati, totaled five tackles in his start…In College Football Playoff National Championship game against Georgia, finished with four tackles against the Bulldogs.
PERSONAL – Widely considered the top cornerback in the 2021 signing class, playing for Head Coach Sam Shade at Pinson (Al.) Valley HS...A five-star on the 247Composite, where he ranked as the nation's No. 23 overall player, the No. 1 corner and the top player in Alabama...The No. 18 player nationally in the Top247 by 247Sports and the site's top-ranked cornerback...Rivals.com ranked him 46th nationally, the No. 2 cornerback and the No. 1 recruit in Alabama...Four-star recruit and No. 38 in the ESPN300 (ESPN.com) and the No. 4 athlete, the No. 2 player in Alabama and No. 17 player in the Southeast by ESPN...No. 13 on the PrepStar Top 150 Dream Team and the publication's No. 1 cornerback and top player in his state...Selected to Under Armour All-America Game...Earned Alabama All-State honors from Max Preps...A playmaker on both sides of the football, leading the Indians to the Alabama 6A State Championship in 2020 and three titles in four years.
