Nick Saban shares how Kool-Aid McKinstry, Terrion Arnold have stood out in cornerback competition

As the cornerback competition rolls along at Alabama, two players have stood out above the rest. Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold have made the most of the opportunity, and Nick Saban explained how they’re standing out.

McKinstry leads the Crimson Tide with seven passes defended to go with 17 tackles while Arnold sits tied for second on the team with three pass breakups and 19 tackles. Saban said both players do a good job limiting explosive plays, which is why they’ve had success in the secondary so far this season.

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“I think both guys have played well, haven’t given up a lot of big plays,” Saban said. “I think that’s the key to the drill. Keeping people cut off in the deep part of the field, playing the ball in the deep part of the field. They’ve been good tacklers. They’ve played the ball in the deep part of the field, they’ve played man-to-man fairly well. Those are probably the most critical factors for them to be successful. The other guys are doing fine, too, but these guys have been the most consistent.”

McKinstry and Arnold are two big reasons why the Crimson Tide have the SEC’s best passing defense, holding teams to 149 passing yards per game this season. They’ll try to maintain that success this week when Texas A&M makes the trip to Tuscaloosa for a Saturday showdown.

Nick Saban provides latest update on Bryce Young’s status, availability vs. Texas A&M

Ahead of Saturday’s showdown with Texas A&M, Alabama head coach Nick Saban gave an update on the injury status of quarterback Bryce Young. In last weekend’s victory over Arkansas, the reigning Heisman winner suffered a shoulder injury that sidelined him for most of the game.

While Young couldn’t return to the field against the Razorbacks, Saban isn’t ruling him out for Saturday’s game against Jimbo Fisher and the Aggies.

“I’m sure that everybody wants an update on Bryce, so I’m going to give it to you,” Saban said on Wednesday’s SEC Coaches Teleconference. “He’s doing some things in practice, and he’s still listed as day-to-day.

“No decision is going to be made until he decides, and we decide from a medical staff standpoint, whether he can go out there and functionally do his job.”