Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick coming of age

[Coach Hank Crisp]

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Junior cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick showed up at Alabama dripping with confidence and hype.

He’s still dripping with confidence. Just ask Arkansas’ contingent of star-studded receivers that he helped to shut down last week.

And the hype?

Well, he’s a lot more substance than hype for the No. 3-ranked Crimson Tide and a key piece to a secondary that’s gone from being a liability at times a year ago to being a strength this season.

Alabama enters this weekend’s game at Florida ranked second nationally in pass efficiency defense. Opponents are completing just 43.9 percent of their passes against the Crimson Tide and averaging 3.52 yards per attempt, both of which lead the country.

“The game has slowed down for us, because we’re not worried about where everybody else is,” Kirkpatrick said. “Everybody’s on the same page now. Last year, we hurt ourselves with too many mental errors. It’s still not perfect, but we’re making a lot less.”

The 6-foot-3, 192-pound Kirkpatrick has all the measurables to make a lot of money at the cornerback position in the NFL. He has great size, a huge wingspan, can turn and run and is also showing that he can be physical.

One of the questions Alabama coach Nick Saban had about Kirkpatrick coming into this season was whether or not he was tough enough.

Against Arkansas, Kirkpatrick looked like a linebacker on a couple of plays with the way he came up and finished tackles, most of those in the open field.

[Hannibal Lecter, MD]

We knew the potential was there all along, but Dre has really become fun to watch this year.  Even on the TD pass he gave up, he had a hand in there and Arkansas' receiver just made a good, strong-handed catch.

[Jamos]

He has matured enough that the game is fun to him now, I guess aging isn't so bad afterall. Roll Tide!

[SUPERCOACH]

I thought he was going to kill some of those hogs last Saturday.

[Jamos]

He's making the headlines and newsreels now, let's see how he handles that. I'm guessing he handles it well with CNS looking over his shoulder.

[2Stater]

I thought he was going to kill some of those hogs last Saturday.

Yeah, him and Upshaw. I bet Tyler Wilson spent more time in the whirlpool than any other hog.

[ricky023]

I was so proud when he picked Alabama but after I first some him on the field and last for sure that he was the going to be the biggest bust. He has however, made me bring to my attention to say I was WRONGGGGG (as Fonzie would say). He is the lockdown corner I was hoping for. I think that description fits him right now. RTR!

[SUPERCOACH]

He is becoming a rare knockdown lockdown.

[hscoach]

I will be honest, in the beginning I thought he was overhyped(hope that is a word).  Now I see what others saw in him.  He has played extremely well this year, not just in pass coverage, but coming up and making plays in the open field.

[BAMAWV]

Watching, you get the feeling they really enjoy their "work". Dre, Lester, Barron, Milliner (I could really just name them all) tattooing people like it was the bowl game. It wouldn't surprise me to hear opponents (Arky) saying, "C'mon man. Enough."

[pmull]

Watching, you get the feeling they really enjoy their "work". Dre, Lester, Barron, Milliner (I could really just name them all) tattooing people like it was the bowl game. It wouldn't surprise me to hear opponents (Arky) saying, "C'mon man. Enough."

Remember what Coach Saban said when he took the Alabama job. We want to build a program that makes oppontents say "I hate playing those guys". I think he has done it. 

[Coach Hank Crisp]

Watching, you get the feeling they really enjoy their "work". Dre, Lester, Barron, Milliner (I could really just name them all) tattooing people like it was the bowl game. It wouldn't surprise me to hear opponents (Arky) saying, "C'mon man. Enough."

Ten minutes left in the 4th quarter Petrino ran out on field and grabbed Wilson, pulling him off, yelling no mas, no mas, no mas!

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