Dre Kirkpatrick Scouting Report

Alabama has very real National Championship hopes mainly because of its defense. The Tide 'D' is not just one of the best defenses this season, but it may be one of the best defenses in college football (along with the current LSU unit). A big reason is Kirkpatrick, a junior cornerback and an in-state product who was rated No. 1 at his position coming out of high school by ESPNU and Rivals.com.

Kirkpatrick already has plenty of experience and will likely be making his way to the next level after this season. He played in all 12 games as a freshman, became a starter in 2010, and has emerged as arguably the best cornerback in the nation. Through six games in 2011 (obviously all Alabama wins), Kirkpatrick has 14 solo tackles (one for loss) and he leads the team with eight pass breakups, eight passes defensed, and two forced fumbles.

One of the tallest cornerbacks in the business, Kirkpatrick stands at 6'2'' and 192 pounds. He doesn't have top-notch speed to go along with his size, but he generally runs a 4.50 in the 40-yard dash and has been clocked as fast as 4.42 from that distance. Kirkpatrick will have to add some bulk to his lanky frame before he heads to the NFL (he sometimes struggles with more physical receivers), but that should come. Assuming he leaves early, Kirkpatrick is a lock for a first-round selection and he could be the first at his position off the board in the 2012 NFL Draft.