Stripe Hype Player Profile: Dre Kirkpatrick

 

Rookie CB Dre Kirkpatrick from the NCAA Champion Alabama Crimson Tide is ready for the NFL. He comes from a pro-style defensive program led by head coach Nick Saban. Right now Bama looks like the University of Miami did a decade ago, pumping out NFL players like an assembly line.

Kirkpatrick is a warrior on the football field. He uses his entire body to deliver a heavy hit and wraps up well to bring down his opponents. He also knows how to lower his head and put his helmet into the ball to jar it loose. He has great speed, size and instincts and shouldn’t have any trouble adjusting to an NFL playbook.

During his college career he amassed 87 tackles, 16 pass breakups, 3 forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, 6 tackles for a loss, a blocked field goal (returned for a 55-yard touchdown), and 3 interceptions.

Once the 6’1, 186 lbs. Kirkpatrick emerged at Alabama as a shut-down corner he saw very limited action. Yet he showed that he doesn’t lose concentration as offenses flowed to whichever side of the field he wasn’t on. He rarely gave up a big play and proved to be a cerebral and focused competitor.