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Pete Golding points to what impresses him most about 5-star freshman Kool-Aid McKinstry
By Keith Farner
Published:
There’s plenty of hype around Alabama 5-star freshman Kool-Aid McKinstry, and defensive coordinator Pete Golding is watching what stands out about the star defensive back.
In his first address to the media this season, Golding said the thing that stands out most is his willingness to play aggressively with physicality. Most cornerbacks with his recruiting profile don’t like to hit as much as McKinstry does. Golding said he also has a high football IQ.
“He’s got the ability, he has the ability to process and put his face on you,” Golding said. “So if we can get that consistent, he’s going to be a really good player.”
Golding also explained what makes the 5-star standout in terms of measurables.
“He’s got the length that we want. He’s got the short-area quickness. He can run. He’s got top-end speed, he’s played offense, so he’s got the ball skills,” Golding said. “The one thing that I was most impressed about from Kool-Aid in the spring was the ability to come up and put his face on you. A lot of times those type of kids, especially that position sometimes are hesitant to come put their face on you. Based on the coverage principles we’re playing, a lot of times those guys, those corners are in the fit, we’re using them, we’re spilling the ball out to them or we’re going to blitz them. He was athletic enough, we knew that, but I thought he was more physical.”
The next level to reach in his development is the consistency to do his job, and also have the maturity to realize that the opposing players are on scholarship too, and there will be times when you get beat.
McKinstry enrolled at Alabama in the spring as a highly-touted recruit from Pinson, Alabama. A 5-star prospect, McKinstry was the No. 1 cornerback and player from the state of Alabama, as well as the nation’s 18th overall recruit for the 2021 cycle, according to the 247Sports Composite.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
