Red Morgan may be lined up for a breakout season as Alabama’s starting husky, but the depth chart behind him is getting crowded fast.
The first name in the mix is Dre Kirkpatrick Jr., who is back in good standing with the team after last year’s off-field issues. Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said the role asks a lot from one player, and Kirkpatrick’s instincts make him a natural fit.
"There's a lot we ask out of that position, and there's a lot of different traits and skill sets," defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said. "You've got to be able to play man.
You've got to be able to blitz off the edge, play variations of zone, fit the run game, and so Dre, being a very instinctive football player, that kind of fits him. It's an opportunity to get him around the ball and blitz him off the edge as well."
Kirkpatrick’s path has already included plenty of flashes. He appeared in all eight games for Alabama before his suspension following a November arrest, mostly on special teams with some defensive snaps mixed in. His playmaking résumé at Tuscaloosa has included an A-Day interception as a 17-year-old in 2024, a forced fumble against Louisiana-Monroe last season, and what was reported as an interception in Alabama’s scrimmage last week.
"When he gets on the field, he just makes plays, and he usually makes plays in big moments," Wommack said. "In scrimmages, he always seems to step up.
You know, in team move-the-ball periods, he always seems to step up. He's another guy who has a lot of position versatility and things that we feel like we can do with him.
"I told our guys before, the way you're going to get on the field is to do your job to a consistent level that we trust you, and create value by playmaking ability, right? And I think Dre is trending in the right direction."
Wommack also said Kirkpatrick could get work at rover and might even factor into the free safety rotation.
Another player drawing attention is Chuck McDonald III, the sophomore who saw limited action last season after arriving as a four-star recruit. Wommack said McDonald has made noticeable progress, especially with the finer points of playing the position.
"Chuck has really taken some great strides," Wommack said. "Sometimes you have guys that it just takes a minute for them to kind of get their bearings and grasp what we're doing defensively, and then you have to tie that in with the fundamental work.
(Defensive backs coach) Maurice Linguist is as good as it gets when it comes to developing those guys fundamentally, and so his man skills have greatly improved. His understanding and anticipation have improved, which is very valuable in that nickel position for us."
Even with injuries to Jireh Edwards, Jorden Edmunds, and Nick Sherman, there’s still a steep climb to earn snaps in Alabama’s secondary. McDonald’s role is tough to pin down right now, but the staff clearly thinks highly of him, and his versatility could help him break through.
"Chuck can play both nickel and corner," Wommack said. "That was something that a year ago, we probably couldn't put on his plate. So his stock arrow is going up right now."
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Alabama Just Drew A Hard Line On One SEC Roster Fight
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It also arrives against a backdrop of ongoing legal fights over player eligibility, including cases tied to former players such as Dae'quan Wright and Charles Bediako. Those disputes have kept the line between amateur and professional pathways in the spotlight, and the SEC's latest move only adds another layer to a debate that is still very much alive around how schools build and police their rosters. [Read more 🡒]