Alabama Fans, Get Ready for Swagger From Dre on Football Day

Larry Burton (PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla.) In Nick Saban's universe, you don't break the rules. As a reporter last year, one rule I understood was, do not interview freshmen, but walking off the field last year with the team, I noticed I was beside Dre Kirkpatrick, a young man from next to my hometown, and said, "I can't wait to see you starting at corner back here."

And he grinned real big and said, "That makes two of us!"

Well this year, we'll both be happy people.

At Gadsden City High School, Dre Kirkpatrick developed into one of the most sought after corner backs in the entire nation and one of the top overall recruits.

At Gadsden, he ran kickoffs, punts, receptions and interceptions all back for touchdowns. He was a danger for opponents in whatever he did, and he knew it.

He wasn't a bragger, but he had swagger.

And to be on a corner alone, with a dangerous receiver in front of you and no help behind you, you better have a little a little confidence, a good amount of speed and a lot of swagger.

I knew that Dre had all that when on signing day during what has become a common occurrence with the hat picking for the cameras, he picked up the Texas hat first. But with it in his hand he said, "No, I can't wear this cap, it ain't got no swagger!"

And with the Alabama cap still on the table, reached into a trash bag and pulled out an Atlanta Braves cap, which he meant to represent an Alabama cap.

Now that is swagger.

As for going from one of the nations top recruits to a special team player and a bench warmer, Dre knows how to put everything into perspective.

"This is not my year," he said last year. "We all have roles to play. And if we win it all and me playing that role, then that's what important. When my role is more, I just want us to have this same success."

So many players I talked to last year sang off the same page. Team first, prepare like a starter, play like a champion.

For a man like Dre to be able to put aside all that ego for the team is not surprising. He is and has always been a team man.

And perhaps the fact that teammates from that same Gadsden City team came to Alabama helps. Jerrell Harris and Kendall Kelley both came from his old team to this one at Alabama.

Both those men still have yet to make the mark on this program like Dre, and also like him, they certainly will someday have their day. Harris will get his shot this year and perhaps Kelley next year.

It may have hurt that Alabama had great corners last year for Dre, but the nagging injuries he also sustained didn't help either with him getting any playing time.

First his back, then his hamstring and finally his ankle had problems. Now those injuries are behind him and all the work and rehab he did only made him a stronger player physically.

And the skills at corner didn't get rusty. In fact Dre says that time in the film room and learning better techniques than he brought to Tuscaloosa make him a much better player than last year.

So what's his plan to not only claim one of those vacant corner slots, but to to shine in doing it?

"I'm just going to ball out!" he said. "Next year is my year and my number. I am ready to ball out."

Is that swagger enough for you?