During his time at Alabama, Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry and Kool-Aid joined forces for multiple partnerships through NIL. That will continue as he heads to the NFL with the New Orleans Saints.
Kool-Aid is preparing to launch its first new, limited-edition flavor in three years after the Saints selected McKinstry in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. “Black Cherry Blitz” is debuting as an homage to his favorite flavor.
The Kool-Aid Man also made an appearance at McKinstry’s draft party as he waited to hear his name called.
McKinstry – listed on the official Alabama roster as “Kool-Aid” – put together a standout career at Alabama from 2021-23 as he went on to become the No. 41 overall pick in the draft. His freshman season started shortly after NIL came to be in college athletics, and Kool-Aid quickly sought to partner with him. In August 2021, they temporarily swapped names on Twitter, and he wore a Kool-Aid Man chain to SEC Media Days this past year.
“It means a lot to me,” McKinstry told reporters during a breakout session. “The Kool-Aid Man means a lot to me. The Kool-Aid Man also has my number. All those things, it means a lot to me, to represent me.”
Kool-Aid McKinstry heading to the Saints
McKinstry started all three years at Alabama under Nick Saban after arriving as a five-star recruit and the No. 17 overall player from the 2021 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. His best season came as a sophomore in 2022 when he had 35 tackles, two tackles for loss a sack and an interception.
McKinstry was one of the top cover corners and one of the biggest names in a deep cornerback class in this year’s draft. While he’s not a finished product yet as he heads to New Orleans, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein said McKinstry could become an impact player given his unique skillset.
“Three-year starter and former five-star prospect with a quirky name and consistent game,” Zierlein wrote. “McKinstry is patient and well-groomed in matching the outside release and riding the inside release from press. He’s confident to handle business on an island and is able to stay in phase as the route travels vertically. He’s not overly fast but does play with plus acceleration to close out crossing routes or make aggressive plays on the catch point.
“As with most college corners, McKinstry will need to transition some of his open-field hand usage into quality footwork to avoid downfield penalties. He’s more aggressive in coverage than he is as a tackler and could find himself forced to prove his toughness in that area. McKinstry is more of a pure cover man than a playmaker, but his poise, intelligence and athleticism should lead him toward becoming a good outside corner with scheme versatility.”
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