Kool-Aid McKinstry: Crossing paths with Kevin Steele at Alabama is 'very exciting'

Kool-Aid McKinstry may have been a five-star prospect but his recruitment came down to regional powers. The Pinson (AL) Pinson Valley product had a final three of Alabama, Auburn, and Georgia, with the Crimson Tide eventually winning out. Ironically enough, Kevin Steele was on the losing end of McKinstry’s recruitment as he was the defensive coordinator on the Plains.

Now, Steele has the opportunity to coach McKinstry after joining Alabama’s staff as the defensive coordinator. The duo had a “great relationship” going back to the defensive back’s time as a high school player. McKinstry is excited to have the opportunity to play for Steele — really having everything come full circle.

“When Coach Steele was at Auburn, he recruited me very hard,” McKinstry said. “Going back to the relationship we had, we had a great relationship when he was recruiting me at Auburn. For us to run cross paths here at ‘Bama was very exciting.”

Auburn had a real chance of landing McKinstry. Pinson Valley was a place former head coach Gus Malzhan won recruitments in the past. McKinstry took multiple visits on campus and was one of the Tigers’ biggest priorities for the 2021 recruiting class.

Steele wound up on the losing end, at least for Auburn. He is now most likely thankful Alabama wound up being the decision as he gets to coach McKinstry. Probably not something he would have believed whenever McKinstry called him to deliver the recruiting bad news.

While McKinstry might be excited to play under Steele, Pete Golding was still around for his first two seasons on campus. There could be some tweaks in the system with a coaching change. But McKinstry is not too worried, saying players are used to it in Tuscaloosa.

“Well, I feel like at ‘Bama we already know as players that coaches are going to be there and coaches might not be there,” McKinstry said. “I feel like us knowing that is a big deal with us, changing coaches, just learning new coaches, seeing their way of things, seeing how they’re going to be different into the program.”

Even with the transition from Golding to Steele, expectations are high in Tuscaloosa. McKinstry is a big reason why, projected to be a lock-down corner against some of the best wide receivers in all of college football.

Doing so under the guidance of Steele adds another exciting element to the 2023 season.