Kool-Aid McKinstry, Chucky, and the backstory of the horror film doll that attends Alabama games

Alabama cornerback Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry made his name on the football field as a five-star recruit before becoming an NIL superstar with his nickname and personality popping off the screen. However, even in the years before he stepped into the national spotlight, his unique mentality and marketability were on full display.

Kool-Aid McKinstry was still in high school when he watched the Chucky franchise of movies and drew an interesting comparison between himself and the title character which might frighten some – including the wide receivers he faces on the line of scrimmage.

“I watched the movie – the Chucky movie – and I seen that he was a killer,” said McKinstry in an interview during his senior year of high school. “And I was like, ‘he kinda has the same mindset as me, but I just do it on the field.’ So I went and bought one and I just walk around with him.”

The constant reminder of his killer mentality only added to the hype surrounding his recruitment. After receiving interest from the top schools in the country, the Alabama native stayed home with the Crimson Tide.

ROLLING W DA TIDE …. LIKE NICK SABAN🐘 pic.twitter.com/2h252DGwcw

— Kool-Aid “🎰” McKinstry (@GaQMcK1) October 27, 2020

Now holding an market value of $475,000, according to On3’s NIL Valuation, McKinstry has been able to balance improvement on the field with the growth of his brand as an athlete. Playing under Nick Saban in the secondary, he promises to continue receiving top-level coaching and get the exposure needed to impress the public over the next few years.

More on Kool-Aid McKinstry’s Chucky doll

Now as Kool-Aid McKinstry enters his sophomore season at Alabama, the Chucky doll does not make any appearances on the sideline due to NCAA regulations. Not that Nick Saban would allow such props on his bench anyway. However, that does not mean Chucky’s presence does not still reside in Bryant-Denny Stadium when No. 1 takes the field.

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“Yes, I still have the Chucky doll,” said McKinstry on Tuesday. “My mom actually brings it to every game.”

After breaking out as a contributor as a freshman on a team which dealt with several injuries in the secondary before making the winning the SEC championship and advancing to the national championship game, he returned with high expectations as a starter in 2022. So far, McKinstry has recorded 11 tackles with five pass deflections and one sack.

In addition to his defensive effort, McKinstry has stepped up on special teams as a punt returner after multiple injuries forced Nick Saban and the staff to look elsewhere for a contributor. In four games, he has 14 attempts for 244 yards including multiple big returns which set up the offense in good field position.

As Chucky looks on from somewhere in the stands, Kool-Aid McKinstry just keeps doing his thing on the field. With a game that scary, the doll could soon become a secondary character in the opponents nightmares on gameday.