Ga'Quincy "Kool-Aid" McKinstry is the best defensive back in the class of 2021. The Pinson Valley High School star has shined for years and had the opportunity to choose from basically any school in college football.
McKinstry is a five-star cornerback from the Birmingham suburb of Pinson, Ala., so his final destination may not surprise you.
In 2021, McKinstry will be suiting up for the Alabama Crimson Tide and playing for head coach Nick Saban.
Ga'Quincy McKinstry Commits to Alabama
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Ga'Quincy McKinstry racked up nearly 30 scholarship offers from around the country and from every conference, according to 247Sports.
In addition to Bama, the list included Arizona State, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kansas, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia.
The Auburn Tigers and LSU Tigers were the runners-up for the defensive back. Instead, Alabama's 2021 recruiting class got even stronger.
Nick Saban on Ga'Quincy McKinstry and Terrion Arnold playing football and basketball. "We don't have an issue with guys playing other sports. ... Coach Oats and I have a good idea of how we're going to do it."
— Tony Tsoukalas (@Tony_Tsoukalas) February 3, 2021
Kool-Aid is a dual-sport athlete who was being recruited as a basketball player as well. He arrived on campus in January and practiced with the Alabama basketball team before spring football started.
Ga'Quincy McKinstry Highlights
Something that stands out about Kool-Aid McKinstry is his ability to shine in all phases of the game, not just as a cover corner.
He has the athleticism to go up and haul in touchdowns at wide receiver, which could translate well on defense as well as returning kicks. His ball skills are apparent.
With McKinstry on the field, the Pinson Valley Indians reached a state championship game. Clearly, McKinstry knows what it takes to compete at a high level of football and he's proved it so far in preseason camp at Alabama.
He has also shown he can come up and tackle receivers at the line of scrimmage, which is extremely important to the success of a defense and when the time comes for his NFL Draft stock.
Kool-Aid McKinstry Signs Endorsement Deal With Kool-Aid
OHHH YEAHH! @GaQMcK1 #ItsOfficial #SigningDay #BrandAthlete pic.twitter.com/bfiO9KwIW9
— Kool-Aid Man (@koolaid) August 18, 2021
Despite being known as a playmaker on the field, Kool-Aid might be more well known for the nickname his grandma gave him as a kid.
The good folks who make the Kool-Aid drink thought there was no better opportunity to make a team of Kool-Aids. McKinstry inked a deal as a brand athlete of the drink thanks to the NCAA's new NIL rules. He's officially listed as Kool-Aid McKinstry on Alabama's roster, too.
The University of Alabama football team is the hands-on favorite for yet another College Football Playoff berth in 2021.
Players like Kool-Aid McKinstry will ensure that Nick Saban's dominance will continue for years on end.
This post was originally published on February 20, 2020 before updating.
