Another Dre Kirkpatrick will play football for Alabama football.

On Friday, Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. committed to Nick Saban, making the same choice his father Dre Kirkpatrick Sr. made 14 years ago when he picked the Crimson Tide. He announced his commitment on Gadsden City school’s football field surrounded by friends and teammates. After teasing the crowd with a Missouri shirt, Kirkpatrick pulled out his dad’s No. 21 jersey.

Kirkpatrick Jr. is a three-star defensive back. His final four included Missouri, Arkansas and Auburn. Mizzou had earned multiple Rivals predictions in its favor, but a late push from the Tide gave Alabama the 18th commit in the class of 2024. Kirkpatrick Jr. is the first legacy commit for Saban during the coach’s 17-year tenure.

Kirkpatrick Jr. took his first unofficial visit to Tuscaloosa in June 2021. He told Bama Central that Saban was “kinda surprised” how big Kirkpatrick Jr. had gotten after not being around the program for roughly 6-7 years. Alabama extended its official offer on July 25, giving Kirkpatrick Jr. a chance to play for the school he rooted for growing up.

The one his dad played for from 2009-11, winning a pair of BCS national championships. In 66 career games, Kirkpatrick Sr. tallied 91 total tackles, three interceptions, three forced fumbles and one touchdown. Kirkpatrick was then drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals 17th overall in 2012. The father revisited his alma mater with his son during Kirkpatrick Jr.’s multiple trips.

The Tide’s last three verbal pledges have all been defensive backs: California four-star Peyton Woodyard on Aug. 8, Central-Phenix City’s Rydarrius Morgan a day later and now Kirkpatrick Jr.

The trio joins Clay-Chalkville’s Jalyen Mbakwe and top-100 cornerback Zabien Brown as the defensive back recruits currently committed. In the 2023 class, UA had five secondary recruits and two spring portal transfers.

Kirkpatrick Jr. also becomes the seventh in-state prospect for Alabama’s class, ranked fourth overall by 247Sports Composite team list. While Auburn has made waves by recruiting local talent, the Tide has managed a few historic adds this cycle like Kirkpatrick Jr. and William Sanders — the first UA commit from Brookwood High.

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Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].