Kool-Aid McKinstry talks about the punt returns that have Will Anderson, teammates, going crazy on the sideline
Alabama cornerback Ga’Quincy ‘Kool-Aid’ McKinstry made an impact on defense in their latest game versus Vanderbilt, recording three tackles and three pass breakups. But his most memorable plays of the day may have been from his punt returner spot, where he racked up 91 return yards on five attempts.
“First off I’ll say the blockers that I have do a good job all week of working hard and making sure I have the lanes that I have to be able to take, and I just take them and do the best I can for the team,” McKinstry said.
McKinstry’s dazzling returns have even gotten the attention of his teammates, as edge Will Anderson was asked if they were a must-watch event following a Crimson Tide defensive stop.
“Oh most definitely it is, you know everybody gets up and go looks like ‘let’s see what Kool-Aid’s gonna do on this drive,’ and he actually has a little shake and bake to him believe it or not,” Anderson said. “So when we watch him everybody will be on the sideline laughing all the time because he actually gets out and he actually can move really well and is very athletic.”
Making people miss the way McKinstry definitely takes a lot of focus, but he did say he can occasionally hear some of the oohs and ahhs from his teammates on the sideline during some of his punt returns.
“Sometimes I can hear them, but I be so locked in that I just be trying to do what I can do, but yeah I can hear them sometimes,” McKinstry said.
McKinstry’s return ability has gotten the attention of offense players on Alabama as well, as quarterback Bryce Young seconded the idea of watching McKinstry’s returns being a necessity.
“Yeah definitely, when he’s back returning the punt I’m up, so I’m always locked in because we’re ready to leave on the sideline and watching it is honestly really fun. He’s super electric, he makes a lot of plays and he’s been able to change the field position for us multiple times,” Young said.
Young is particularly fond of McKinstry’s return ability because of the impact it has on the Crimson Tide offense’s starting field position, as his 244 return yards this season are 244 fewer yards that Young and his offense have to drive down the field in order to score.
“It’s so important from when you think you’re getting the ball 20, 25 and now you’re getting it at the 40, you’re getting the opposing 40, for us as an offense, as a play caller, that changes everything,” Young said. “It gives us a way better chance of scoring, puts us in a great situation, so being able to watch that from the sideline’s been a lot of fun.”
This season is McKinstry’s first time as Alabama’s punt returner, as he fills in for their lead punt return man JoJo Earle, who suffered an injury during fall camp that was projected to sideline him 6-8 weeks. Earle is expected to return to action in October, and it will be interesting to see how the Crimson Tide use him, being that McKinstry has been so productive and exctitng to watch in the role so far this season.