Positives -- Elite size at 6'3" and the hardest hitting corner available in this draft... Excellent instincts and ability to diagnose plays... Plays much faster than he will run in the 40 yard dash... One of the strongest and most aggressive corners, who will jam receivers at the line... Extremely strong tackler, in fact, Kirkpatrick looks like a safety roaming around at times... Experienced starter on one of the nation's best college defenses... Plays off coverage at times to bait quarterbacks into underneath throws and then exploding through the receiver... Possesses talent when it comes to locating the ball.. Skilled in both zone and man coverage... Has the ability to play safety and corner in the NFL, depending on a team's need... Great ability to disrupt receivers and force them to reroute... Can contribute on special teams as a hard hitting gunner.
Negatives -- Can be overaggressive at times and can get caught staring in the backfield... Lacks proper footwork at times and compensates by get overly physical... Over physicality can at times lead to many penalties being called... Does not have the best hands and is not a big play threat... Will catch the occasional interception but cannot be counted on as a consistent turnover machine... Potential off the field problems, was recently charged with possession of marijuana (charges were eventually dropped)... Does not possess elite top end speed (expected to run a 4.5-40)... Can be burned deep by speedy receivers and will require safety help over the top... Does not have return man ability... Looks for the big hit over strong man coverage which can lead quarterbacks taking advantage of Kirkpatrick. At Alabama -- (Official School Bio) 2011: Dre Kirkpatrick developed into a shut-down corner and a leader in the Crimson Tide secondary... a first-team All-American by the FWAA, CBSsports.com and Pro Football Weekly... second-team Associated Press All-American... second-team All-SEC by both the AP and the league coaches... has 26 tackles with 23 solo stops while defenses continue to throw away from him... also has a nine pass breakups... returned a blocked field goal 55 yards for a touchdown... has two forced fumbles and two tackles for loss (-4 yards)... part of a defense that leads the nation in pass defense (116.3 ypg) and pass efficiency defense (83.9)... two-time Defensive Player of the Week by the UA coaching staff. Penn State: Forced two Nittany Lions' fumbles while making two solo tackles and breaking up one pass in the 27-11 road win over No. 23 Penn State... Defensive Player of the Week by the UA coaching staff. Arkansas: Matched his season and career best with three pass breakups... had a season-high six tackles -- all solo... had two devastating hits that upended Arkansas receivers... recorded his first tackle for loss of the season (-3 yards)... helped limit the Hogs to over 150 yards below their season average throwing the football and 291 yards below their total offense average. Vanderbilt: Made two solo stops and helped limt the Commodores to just 149 passing yards. Mississippi: Made four total tackles with three solo stops... had his first assisted tackle of the year... helped limit the Rebels to just 113 yards passing... named the Special Teams Player of the Week by the UA coaching staff. Tennessee: Had just one tackle with the Volunteers not testing his side of the field... helped limit UT to just 63 passing yards and 15 yards of total offense in a 37-6 win. LSU: Recorded four tackles as the Crimson Tide limited the top-ranked Tigers to just 91 yards passing. Mississippi State: Made one solo tackle as the Tide limited the Bulldogs to just 131 total yards while posting a 18.8 third-down conversion percentage. Georgia Southern: Made two solo tackles as the Tide held the Eagles to just 39 yards passing... returned a blocked field goal 55 yards for a score. Auburn: Broke up and deflected the only ball thrown in his direction... helped the Crimson Tide limit the Tigers to just 44 yards through three quarters and 140 total yards.