Every NFL Draft cycle, there are certain unique names that stand out from the crowd. Given that the NFL allows players to decide what their official league name will be regardless of their given first name, we can get some interesting nicknames. Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry is one of them. What is McKinstry’s real name, and why did he make the change?
Is Kool-Aid McKinstry His Real Name or Nickname?
McKinstry’s real name is Ga’Quincy McKinstry. “Kool-Aid” was a nickname originally given to him by his grandmother when he was little.
McKinstry’s grandmother nicknamed him “Kool-Aid” because his smile reminded her of the Kool-Aid Man — the well-known mascot for the Kraft Heinz flavored drink brand of the same name.
Until college, it was only a nickname for McKinstry. But it quickly caught steam with his play as a five-star recruit. Much like Julio Jones’ real first name is Quintorris, Ga’Quincy remains McKinstry’s legal name. However, he has elected to be listed as Kool-Aid McKinstry wherever his name can be found.
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As you might expect, McKinstry’s nickname helped him acclimate to the new NIL landscape in college football. It should come as little surprise that McKinstry has a deal with none other than Kool-Aid itself, signing as a true freshman shortly after the new NIL rules went into effect.
For McKinstry, however, the nickname has long been a part of his personal journey and how his personality shined through to others. On the field, it’s also a sobering reminder for wide receivers of how ice-cold McKinstry can be in press man and at the catch point.
McKinstry’s 2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Don’t worry about falling for the hype because of McKinstry’s name. The scouting team at Pro Football Network can confirm that it’s safe to drink the Kool-Aid with Alabama’s latest cornerback prospect.
Oftentimes we will prop up mediocre (or worse) players with cool names because we want them to be good. For McKinstry, the caliber of his talent matches the caliber of his nickname.
While McKinstry is no longer the top CB in this class, there is no shame in being No. 3 on our latest Big Board. He is pretty much a lock to go in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
After racking up a pick and 15 pass breakups in 2022, McKinstry finished the 2023 season with just seven, but he also added 32 total tackles.
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At 6’1″, 195 pounds, McKinstry has the coveted size, length, athleticism, and fluidity of a lockdown cornerback. On top of that, he’s also an efficient technical savant with smothering ball skills in 50-50 situations.
For a full accounting of McKinstry’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as an NFL projection, you can view McKinstry’s 2024 NFL Draft scouting report by Pro Football Network’s Draft Analyst Ian Cummings.
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