Junior safety Dre Kirkpatrick Jr., a key depth piece in the Alabama defensive backfield and the son of former Crimson Tide All-American cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, was officially dismissed from the football team on Tuesday by head coach Kalen DeBoer.
In a statement, DeBoer said the following:
"After gathering more information on the situation, Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. will no longer be a part of our program. He did not live up to the standards and expectations that I have set for this team and our players."
Kirkpatrick was suspended from the team ahead of Alabama's game on Saturday against Texas A&M. It was not immediately known why, but it came to light on Monday that the junior defensive back had been arrested on Friday and charged with doxing and harassing communications of a UA police officer.
Kirkpatrick allegedly sent a message to the university police officer who arrested him last year on reckless endangerment and eluding charges. He also allegedly posted a photo of the police officer and his family on his Facebook page, per multiple reports.
Dre Kirkpatrick Jr.'s dismissal is a disappointing end to his Alabama career
DeBoer really had no choice with the information that has come out on Kirkpatrick's actions. Just a silly, silly mistake after working hard to get back in the good graces of the coaching staff after last season's arrest that caused him to be suspended for the remainder of the season.
It's a dumb mistake that ends his Alabama career. Hopefully, he'll get the help he needs to get his head on straight because he is a very talented player who will have another opportunity to play big-time college football somewhere next season, assuming he can sort out his legal issues.
In the immediate term for Alabama, it's a loss of depth at the Husky position. Kirkpatrick was getting a handful of snaps per game at the spot, typically working behind Red Morgan and Chuck McDonald. McDonald was starting to see an increase in reps on the outside at corner, however, with the struggles of Dijon Lee and Carmelo O'Neal opposite Zabien Brown.
That likely would have led to an uptick in snaps for the instinctive Kirkpatrick, who always had a nose for the football.
He likely would have had his biggest opportunity to date last week against A&M had he not gotten into trouble. Morgan was ejected in the second quarter for targeting, which could have led Kirkpatrick onto the field with McDonald playing more on the outside, with Brown missing the game with an injury.
Instead, his Alabama career came to an end before he could ever really make the impact that many thought he could.
DeBoer's decision, while difficult, was the right one given the information that has come out.
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