'Same thing they got in me': What Dre Kirkpatrick brings to Alabama football, Nick Saban
GADSDEN — Dre Kirkpatrick Jr., a defensive back out of Gadsden City High School, committed to the University of Alabama on Friday.
He picked the Crimson Tide over Missouri, Auburn and Arkansas. Kirkpatrick was rated the 148th best cornerback in the nation, even though he plays safety. He is the first player to commit to Alabama whose father also played for the Crimson Tide under Nick Saban.
Kirkpatrick is the son of Dre Kirkpatrick, a former Alabama and NFL cornerback. The younger Kirkpatrick was around his father when he was at Alabama and in the NFL, so he knows what it takes to play at the next level.
Kirkpatrick had been around the NFL and inside locker rooms from a young age, giving him a unique perspective. He has joined his father on trips to Ohio to train with his father's personal trainer. His father said he believes the Crimson Tide will be getting a player similar to himself.
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"Getting the same thing they got in me. Hard worker, dedication, putting his teammate first and he wants to win championships," the older Kirkpatrick said.
The younger Kirkpatrick was the No. 1 defensive back in the Gadsden area by the Gadsden Times earlier this month, and for good reason. He had 69 tackles, 33 of those were solo and one was for a loss. He added three interceptions and 16 pass break ups last season. On the playing field Kirkpatrick's coach Ali Smith, who also helped coach his father, believes they bring similar styles but are different players.
"He's very instinctive, he loves ball. He understands scheme, he studies it a good little bit," Smith said. "He's very aware of what's going on in ball games, those situations are very good for him because he understands situational football and he's very aware of what's going on."
"...This is a throw back football, junior is. Little man is a football player...his daddy was an unbelievable all world athlete...little man is strong, unbelievable strong for his size and age, unbelievable strength. He brings passion, he loves it, he wears it on him. He wants to win."
Kirkpatrick will make a special teams coordinator happy for a while, he possesses talent and speed in the return game. He showed it with a kickoff return during a team scrimmage on Thursday, along with multiple times in the last few seasons.
The younger Kirkpatrick wants the faithful to know that he is ready to give his all to the Crimson Tide.
"Everything out of me, I am going to put my heart into the game," Kirkpatrick said. "I am going to make sure I respect the game, give it all I got, the day I can't give it all I got, the day I won't play no more."
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: What is Alabama football getting in Gadsden City safety Dre Kirkpatrick Jr.
