Kool-Aid McKinstry reveals what he has seen from Caleb Downs

Kool-Aid McKinstry is the leader of Alabama’s defensive backs unit heading into this season. He sees a lot of potential, though, out of one of his position room’s youngest prospects based on what Caleb Downs has shown.

McKinstry spoke about Downs while meeting with the media this week. He started by commenting on Downs’ smarts and then went on to commend his behavior that makes him seem and feel like a fellow veteran.

“I feel like he’s a very smart player,” said McKinstry.

“He does all the little things right like treatment, meeting with coaches. Just to see him try to handle things like a vet? It’s kind of like he’s been here for a while,” added McKinstry. “Just to see the way he handles things as a freshman is very surprising.”

Downs has made himself known early on during his time in Tuscaloosa. He has made such an early impact that many already expect him to be one of the Tide’s starting safeties this weekend as a true freshman.

However, that’s no surprise based on how highly touted he comes. Downs arrives as a five-star prospect out of Mill Creek High School. He was the No. 5 overall recruit in 2023 according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also finished as the No. 1 safety in the cycle as well as the top prospect out of the state of Georgia.

McKinstry has two years of experience on Downs at the college level. Even so, he already sees the right qualities from him that suggest that he could become a big-time player somewhere down the road.

Downs tabbed as a breakout player for Alabama

Alabama recruits the best players in the country on a consistent basis. Nobody has done so at a higher level than Nick Saban throughout his tenure.

There are times when five-star caliber players are buried on the depth chart and wait their turn to get on the field but, in the case of Caleb Downs, he is causing a lot of chatter for Alabama. He has the chance to start at safety from the get-go, playing an important role in the Crimson Tide secondary. Most of the reason is that Downs possesses instincts you cannot really teach, no matter the talent level.

“To be real, he’s just a ball player,” On3’s J.D. PicKell said. “Caleb Downs came out of the womb and knew he could play some football. He’s a playmaker on the field. And his skill set can be summed up in two things. Cerebral. Cerebral football player. He’s really good at reading what’s going on with the offense. Second thing, he’s instinctual. You can’t teach instincts.”

Downs is a hot topic in Tuscaloosa with those who are plugged in raving about his ability despite not being on campus for too long.

“He’s a guy that had ‘everybody talkin’ factor’ during the spring,” PicKell said. “A lot of people watching what’s going on at Alabama during spring practice. Going ‘hey who’s that No. 2 running around the secondary?’ For those that had not kept up with recruiting, that’s Caleb Downs and he’s very, very likely going to be a guy that contributes for you in a very big way as a freshman in Tuscaloosa.”