Analysis/Breakdown of new Alabama DB commit Dre Kirkpatrick Jr.

Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. has announced his commitment to the University of Alabama. He is the first ‘Nick Saban-era’ legacy player to commit to the Crimson Tide. On3 Sports Rankings and Scouting Director Charles Power provided his take on the new Alabama commitment.

“Dre Kirkpatrick Jr., is a very physical, active defensive back who can do a lot of different things in Alabama’s defense. He’s continued to get better. I think it’s important to understand he’s young for his class. He just turned 17-years old. He has continued to get bigger and better after adding 15-pounds of mass during the off-season.

“He had a good junior season at Gadsden City. He flies around, is instinctive, plays fast and sees things quickly. It’s not hard to see he’s the son of an NFL player. He knows how to play. He can cover from multiple spots. He lines up at safety. He can cover in the slot. He is always around the ball and is physical. He plays how you would want to play.

‘He can do some different things on defense. I can see him being good on special teams as well because of his physicality and effort level. I think given the strides he made as a junior you have to be encouraged. He was initially in Ohio when we first knew about him, and moved back to Alabama.

“He showed encouraging progress in the last year. His father is really well known Alabama player on the early (Nick) Saban teams. He has a different body type than his dad. You can see just with the edge he plays with that bears the most resemblance to his father.

“I look forward to see how he improves as a senior. I think the positive growth signs he showed from sophomore to junior year are encouraging. Alabama has had a really good look at him. I’m looking forward to tracking him as a senior.”– Power

Alabama with six DB commitments

Zabien Brown during Alabama official visit.

Jaylen Mbakwe, five-star CB from Clay-Chalkville HS in Ala.Zabien Brown, Top 100 CB from Mater Dei HS in Santa Ana, Calif.Peyton Woodyard, Top 100 S from St. John Bosco in Bellflower, Calif.Jameer Grimsley, Top 100 CB from Tampa (Fla.) CatholicRed Morgan, three-star S from Central HS in Phenix City, Ala.Dre Kirkpatrick Jr., three-star S from Gadsden (Ala.) City

It seems like Alabama’s defensive back class is complete with its sixth commitment on Friday evening. Alabama has pieced together an outstanding collection of talent which includes four players ranked among the Top 100 players in the country. Alabama ended June with only one DB commitment (Mbakwe). The five new additions in the last 49 days has also included two flips (Woodyard-UGA, Morgan-FSU)

One thing to remember- it’s still August. There is still four months remaining in the ’24 recruiting cycle (at least for the ones who will sign in December). Current Alabama commitments are still pursued by other programs including (Jameer) Grimsley who is still recruited by Florida. USC will also continue to try its best at flipping local stars such as (Peyton) Woodyard and (Zabien) Brown. There are currently, however, not any commitments on flip watch. All appear solid with their decisions.

Alabama will also continue recruiting a few others. UA remains in interested in Zay Mincey, Top 100 cornerback from Mainland High School in Daytona Beach. The Sunshine State product may, however, look at the overall DB numbers in the Tide’s class as a justifiable reason to remain closer to home.

Terry Bussey, five-star athlete from Timpson High School in Texas, will take an official visit to Alabama September 9-10. He will announce a decision September 28. Bussey is recruited as an athlete-wide receiver or defensive back. Alabama will not turn down a commitment from Bussey if things start to turn in the Tide’s favor after the visit next month.

A few UGA cornerback commitments visited Alabama in June- Ellis Robinson, five-star from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., and Demello Jones, four-star from Swainsboro High School in Ga. Both recruits have indicated their decision remain solid with the Bulldogs. A visit to Tuscaloosa this season remains a possibility.

It’s unlikely Alabama will add another defensive back commitment at this time. The door will remain slightly open especially if others decide later in the fall to take additional visits. Alabama currently appears as the best DB class in the country.

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