Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. Suspended by Alabama for Violation of Team Rules

Alabama defensive back Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. has been suspended for violating team rules, a team spokesperson told On3's Charlie Potter.

Kirkpatrick was ruled out on Alabama's final SEC availability report released 90 minutes before Saturday's 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff against visiting Texas A&M.

He had appeared in every game of Alabama's 5-2 start to the 2026 season.

Alabama previously suspended Kirkpatrick in November 2025, after which he sat out the final seven games of last season.

He was included on Alabama's spring roster ahead of the 2026 season, at which point Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer said Fitzpatrick was working both to get up to football speed and "meet the standard our program expects."

Kirkpatrick has recorded nine tackles, including one for loss, as well as a forced fumble and pass breakup while playing on defense and special teams during Alabama's 7-1 start to the 2026 season.

He was celebrated as the Crimson Tide's special teams player of the week after recording a tackle on punt coverage during a Sept. 26 win over visiting South Carolina.

A former three-star recruit, Kirkpatrick is in his junior season with the Crimson Tide.

He is the son of former Alabama star and NFL cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick Sr., who won two BCS national championships with the Crimson Tide in 2009 and 2011 before going on to play 10 seasons in the NFL.