Alabama fans watched Dre Kirkpatrick perform with a confidence, maturity, and swagger as a defender that allowed him to become a two-time BCS National Champion (2009, 2011) and a 2012 first-round NFL Draft pick.
He came to the University of Alabama as a freshman in 2009, and his son now follows him 14 years later.
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Dre Kirkpatrick Jr., a three-star defensive back, is a product of Gadsden (Ala.) City High School. He is one of nine in-state prospects Nick Saban pulled into this class. Kirkpatrick put on a show at the Alabama-Mississippi Allstar Game and had a good high school career as a safety. He does not carry the same height as his father, but the young Kirkpatrick is no slouch on the field.
Kirkpatrick was a top-50 player in the state of Alabama, giving Gadsden City excels on defense and special teams.
Coach Saban said Kirkpatrick carries the same traits as his dad.
“Little Dre is a mature guy,” Saban said Wednesday after National Signing Day. “He knows what he wants, and he’s a very competitive guy. His dad had a lot of those same characteristics, and that’s why he became the player he was.”
Saban coached Mark Ingram’s dad at Michigan State and Ingram at Alabama, so this is not the first father/son legacy for him.
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It is the first father/son legacy he has at Alabama with Kirkpatrick and Kirkpatrick Jr.
“I think it’s great,” Saban said about the opportunity to coach Kirkpatrick Jr.
“His dad has been a great ambassador for the program. He was a great player here and had a great NFL career. You know how proud he is of his son, what he’s been able to accomplish, and to have him play at Alabama.”
Tide fans are excited to witnessed the development and growth of young Kirkpatrick to become a star.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
