The Alabama Crimson Tide have a history of recruiting and developing one of the most elite groups of defensive backs in the nation under coach Nick Saban, and they just added another one.
On Friday afternoon, class of 2024 defensive back Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. — the son of former Cincinnati Bengals 2009 first-round cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick — announced his commitment to the Alabama Crimson Tide.
“They know how to win and have a great coaching staff,” Kirkpatrick told On3’s Hayes Fawcett. “It is a great location from my hometown. Also being the first legacy player in the Nick Saban era. It’s a great opportunity to play and compete and make it to the NFL.”
As Kirkpatrick notes, he’s the first legacy to commit to Alabama under Saban. His father played at Alabama from 2009-11 and was a draft pick of the Bengals. The elder Kirkpatrick also spent time with the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers, last appearing in the NFL in 2021.
According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Kirkpatrick ranks as the No. 117 cornerback and No. 45 prospect in the state of Alabama in the class of 2024. Kirkpatrick committed to the school that made his father a first-round pick over Mizzou, Auburn among several other potential suitors.
He told Fawcett that Alabama plans on using him at the star position, which Saban has previously described as a “SAM linebacker” and some at safety.
[On3]