Kirkpatrick said he weighed around 165 pounds at the high school level, and weighs around 195 today. And while cornerback may not be considered the most physical position on the field, run support and bump coverage are no small part of the demands on a cornerback at Alabama. Kirkpatrick has more of a basketball player's build, and UA coach Nick Saban indicated that his body type didn't always lend itself to physical play early in Kirkpatrick's career.
"He's really become a better tackler. I never questioned his toughness. There's a difference between being tough and being physical," Saban said. "I think being a long, lean guy, he had toughness but he had a hard time maintaining that physical presence. He's certainly improved in that regard. He's gotten a lot bigger, a lot stronger, and plays that way on the field."
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