Like most years, the Alabama football team will have a long list of players chosen in the 2024 NFL selection. Following another appearance in the College Football Playoff, most big boards throughout the league are stacked with former crimson, gray, and white players. Daniel Jeremiah, an NFL draft guru, lists four former Crimson Tide players among his top 50 prospects. However, on Wednesday, he updated his exclusive list, moving former Alabama defensive back Kool-Aid McKinstry up six slots.
Only Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy advanced as far as McKinstry on Jeremiah’s latest list. Worthy set an NFL record of 4.21 seconds in the 40-yard sprint at last month’s scouting combine in Indianapolis. Meanwhile, his teammate Adonai Mitchell has lost two spots on the most recent big board.
Former Alabama Football CB Kool-Aid McKinstry: Moved up six spots in the updated Big Board.
Longtime Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry is one of the biggest risers on NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah’s Big Board. Jeremiah compliments McKinstry, particularly his ability to play off-coverage.
“From off coverage, everything he does is fluid, but he lacks twitch and urgency. He finds and plays the ball effectively, both in front of him and down the field. He isn’t overly active in the run game, but he is a consistent tackler in space. Overall, Kool-Aid has many redeeming characteristics. “He isn’t the fastest cornerback, but he demonstrated enough speed at his pro day to boost his draft stock,” Jeremiah says of McKinstry’s playmaking abilities.
McKinstry ran a 4.47 40-yard sprint on his Pro Day. He is one of the more noticeable corners in this year’s draft class, standing 6 feet and weighing 199 pounds. He also has perfect arm length for his position, which is essential for corners looking to play press man against some of the best talent in the NFL. McKinstry has seven passes defended in 2023 and no interceptions.
Alabama Crimson Tide: Top-End Talent for 2024 NFL Draft
Kool-Aid McKinstry isn’t the only former Alabama standout to make Daniel Jeremiah’s top 50 list. McKinstry is joined on the new list by fellow cornerback Terrion Arnold, edge rusher Dallas Turner, and offensive tackle JC Latham. Arnold leads the way, ranking as Jeremiah’s eighth overall prospect. Arnold recorded 63 tackles, five interceptions, and 12 passes defensed in 2023.
Meanwhile, Turner was named All-American last season after recording 14.5 TFLs and 10.0 sacks. In addition, Latham is ranked fifth on Jeremiah’s updated offensive tackle rankings. At six-foot-six and 325 pounds, he is one of the largest lineman in the 2019 draft class.
