Returning starters like what they've seen from Alabama's summer enrollees

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – When asked about Alabama’s summer workouts at SEC Media Days on Wednesday, cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry perked up a bit during his time behind the mic.

“I feel like we’re all working as a team,” McKinstry said. “Like everyone’s busting their butts to get back to the Alabama standard. I mean, I’ve been seeing days where guys are just exhausted, and it made me catch the chills, man, just right now even speaking about it, just to know that we’re working our butts off to get back to the standard.

“I can’t wait to get back to those guys later today.”

The Crimson Tide will kick off its 2023 season in six weeks, and the veterans on the team have been impressed by the work put in up to this point. Like fans, reporters and most everyone else, they were interested in some of the new faces that joined the program this summer, and both McKinstry and junior linebacker Dallas Turner have been impressed by the newcomers.

Alabama added five freshman defensive backs to its roster this offseason, but all five were on campus for the spring. However, the Tide welcomed two transfers to its secondary following the 15 practices with Louisiana’s Trey Amos and UAB’s Jaylen Key joining the group. Experienced players at their last stops, the transfer tandem will push their teammates for playing time.

“I feel like those guys are picking it up very well,” McKinstry said of Amos and Key. “I feel like those guys are smart players. They play with great technique. They’re listening. They’re not trying to do anything out of the way. They’re just doing their thing.”

Amos, Key and quarterback Tyler Buchner were the three transfer portal additions that enrolled in late May, but Alabama also saw the rest of its 2023 high school recruiting signees make their way to Tuscaloosa a month and a half ago. Linebackers Keon Keeley and Yhonze Pierre, kicker Conor Talty and running back Richard Young have all officially joined the fold, as well.

Turner has been impressed with the new additions at outside linebacker this summer.

“Everybody in the outside linebacker room, such as Yhonzae Pierre, Keon Keeley, Qua Russaw,” Turner said Wednesday. “I’m seeing those three guys grow into the men that they could become and the football players they are now. It’s just good to see them grow, and I’m just happy to see what the future holds for them.”

Russaw was on campus for the spring, where he worked with the second-team defense in the A-Day Game. Keeley and Pierre were not, but they give Alabama a trio of former 5-stars off the edge at what was already a talent-laden position unit. Being new to college life, Turner said he and the other veteran edge rushers have tried to help the newcomers to get comfortable.

“Just with old heads like me, (Chris Braswell), Keanu Koht and Quandarrius Robinson in the room, I feel like they adapted very well because you have a lot of leadership in the room,” Turner said. “There’s guys that you can come to and ask questions to if you have a problem or need help with something.”

While they may be new to things, the young defenders have stood out in just a short time.

“They come in and work just like us every day,” Turner said. “I know it’s new to them. They might have been a little tired when they first started (laughs), but they’re starting to pick it up now and I’m seeing a lot of progression since when they first got here in May.”

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