Maxwell Donaldson / USA TODAY NETWORK

On Friday, Alabama fans were excited but felt old at the same time.

They watched Dre Kirkpatrick choose the University of Alabama as his collegiate destination in 2009 from Gadsden (Ala.) City High School. He arrived as a five-star cornerback and played from 2009 to 2011 under Nick Saban. Kirkpatrick was a two-time BCS National Champion (2009, 2011) who got better each season. He totaled 53 tackles, three interceptions, and seven pass breakups in 2010. Kirkpatrick got selected at No. 17 overall in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.

He spent ten years in the National Football League, but he now has a son on the come up. Dre Kirkpatrick Jr., a cornerback in the 2024 recruiting cycle, committed to the Tide from Gadsden City High School. He carries the swagger of his father, but he is ready to chart his path. Several fans of Alabama football felt the nostalgia and posted their reactions on Twitter to the commitment.

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