NFL Combine 2012: Could Alabama CB Dre Kirkpatrick Eventually Move to Safety?

Three years ago, Ohio State's Malcolm Jenkins entered the 2009 NFL combine as a first-round quality cornerback. He left as a first-round quality safety prospect.

Jenkins is now one of the NFL's best young safeties as a member of the New Orleans Saints, who drafted him No. 14 overall in '09.

Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick, who many see as the No. 2 or 3 cornerback in the 2012 NFL draft, could potentially see a similar change as he transitions to the next level.

While Kirkpatrick ran in the low 4.5-second range on both of his 40-yard dashes at the combine, there are some worries from at least one NFL source (via Sporting News) about his athletic potential at the cornerback position.

"

[Kirkpatrick] turned in a disappointing performance in the athletic testing drills, especially considering how high the expectations were for Kirkpatrick...[He] struggled to stay low in his backpedal and showed average change-of-direction skills in every drill. One NFL source in attendance said he saw "some stiffness" in his movements, which is not something elite pro prospects want to hear.

"

Mike Mayock, the NFL Network's lead draft analyst, told the Charlotte Observer before the combine that talk about Kirkpatrick moving to free safety in the NFL is very real.  

"He's big and he's long. I'm not sure what he's going to run (in the 40). Some people might even think he could convert to safety down the road," Mayock told Joseph Person of the Observer. "He's a kid I really like a lot, but is that too high for him? Because sitting there at 8 or 9, you've got to get the best football player on the board."

At 6'2", 192 pounds, Kirkpatrick is two inches taller than Jenkins and about 15 pounds lighter. He'd likely have to put on some more weight to hold up in the NFL at safety.

The other athletic measurables are comparable.  

At the combine, Kirkpatrick ran the 40-yard dash in 4.51 seconds; Jenkins at 4.53. Kirkpatrick had a 35-inch vertical leap; Jenkins topped out at 33 inches. Kirkpatrick had a broad jump of 120 inches; Jenkins leaped 124 inches.

Some of Kirkpatrick's game film from Alabama suggests a switch to safety would be best.

Tackling wouldn't be a huge problem for the physical Kirkpatrick, as he routinely made tackles near the line of scrimmage at Alabama. Also, he looked more comfortable and instinctive when Alabama played him in zone coverage during his three years in Tuscaloosa. 

By the time April rolls around, I think Kirkpatrick will still be considered a cornerback first and foremost. But in a draft where there are so few good safety prospects, Kirkpatrick might hold some value for teams in need of cornerback/safety hybrid prospect.

After seeing the success of Jenkins three years ago, teams might not be as reluctant to pull that trigger. This transition can work with the right player. Only time will tell if Kirkpatrick will follow Jenkins' lead at the next level.