For the time in 17 seasons under coach Nick Saban, Alabama will reportedly welcome its first legacy recruit after landing three-star, class of 2024 defensive back Dre Kirkpatrick Jr.
Kirkpatrick Jr., the son of ex-Crimson Tide standout and veteran NFL DB Dre Kirkpatrick, announced his verbal commitment to play for Alabama over Arkansas, Auburn and Missouri on Friday, per On3’s Hayes Fawcett.
A native of Gadsden, Ala., the six-foot, 190-pound Kirkpatrick Jr., a junior at Gadsden City High School, will stay close to home when he eventually plays for Saban, who will now notch a unique benchmark after nearly two decades with the program.
With the budding safety set to follow in his father’s footsteps, Saban will enter what would be his 18th season at Alabama looking to achieve the same goal carried out by Kirkpatrick Sr. and Co. over 10 years ago.
After announcing his commitment in 2009, Kirkpatrick Sr. went on to play for two national championship teams and earn a pair of second-team All-SEC nods in three seasons. He was later drafted 17th in the 2012 NFL draft by the Bengals, where he played for eight years before one-year stints with the Cardinals and 49ers.
