Dre Kirkpatrick Jr., son of former Alabama great Dre Kirkpatrick Sr., committed to the Crimson Tide Friday, as his father did 14 years earlier, making him the first legacy recruit to pledge to Nick Saban during his Alabama tenure.

The younger Kirkpatrick, a member of the 2024 class, chose Alabama over Arkansas, Auburn and Missouri, among others. The 247sports composite three-star recruit plays safety.

Kirkpatrick Sr., a former first-round draft choice of the Cincinnati Bengals at cornerback, played 10 years in the NFL, last appearing in six games for the San Francisco 49ers in 2021. Under Saban at Alabama (2009-11), he won two national titles and was named to the All-SEC team twice.

Saban, 71, is entering his 28th season as a college football head coach in 2023. The Crimson Tide are coming off an 11-2 season, their 15th consecutive year with 10 or more wins, a streak that began in 2008 — the season before Kirkpatrick Sr. joined Alabama as a freshman.

–Field Level Media