Alabama football has a defensive playmaker waiting to be unleashed

3/3/25 MFB MFB Spring Practice 1 Alabama Defensive Back Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. (21) Photo by Kent Gidley

While he was not considered a prized recruit coming out of Gadsden City High School, it was evident Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. had a knack for taking the ball away.

The ability to force turnovers at a high rate is more of an intangible than a skill. Some players just have the natural ability to take the football away, and the Alabama native is one of those players.

Kirkpatrick flashed his ability to do so against Louisiana-Monroe when he forced a Warhawks fumble with a thundering hit. This may have been the first time most Alabama fans saw him do this, but it is something he has always had in his bag.

The Alabama legacy’s high school highlights were filled with him making plays on the football as a defender.

Touchdown Alabama was able to see this in action firsthand in the 2023 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game.

Kirkpatrick Jr. may not have taken home the MVP Award in the game because it went to Ryan Williams, but he showed he was more than deserving with a barrage of turnovers. He finished the game with two interceptions, a punt block, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Alabama DB commit Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. @KirkpatrickDre rips the ball free and picks up.

Kirkpatrick showing flashes of having a feel for the ball. He blocked a punt earlier. pic.twitter.com/jEaLMVIynd

— Justin Smith (@Jdsmith31Smith) December 16, 2023

The way Kirkpatrick was flying all over the field against the Warhawks en route to forcing a fumble and making big hits is what Alabama’s defensive coordinator Kane Wommack has seen from him since the spring.

“I think Dre did some good things at the safety position the other night,” Wommack said on Tuesday. “He’s been doing that all spring. He’s been doing that all fall camp. He plays the game with a lot of effort and energy and some good things happened from that. He created one of our takeaways in the game just flying around and hitting people.”

It will be interesting to see what type of role Kirkpatrick carves out as the season progresses. Unfortunately for the sophomore, he will have to sit out the first half against Wisconsin after being ejected from the Tide’s win over Louisiana-Monroe in the second half due to a targeting penalty.

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