ANDREW BONE: Kirkpatrick attends UA camp

The University of Alabama is hosting its final football camp of the summer, which started Sunday and concludes Wednesday. Prospects from across the country pop in for a one day work-out with the Crimson Tide coaches, and some spend the entire time at the football complex learning new techniques to take home for the 2008 season. Some prospects are hoping to earn a scholarship offer with their performance.

One of the prospects who turned up Sunday in Tuscaloosa is Dre Kirkpatrick, Scout.com five-star prospect from Gadsden City High School. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound cornerback is arguably the top defensive back in the country, with 4.5-second 40-yard dash speed and superb athleticism. He has gone around the region this past weekend demonstrating his elite talent.

Kirkpatrick is not one of those athletes who shies away from competition. He dominated his counterparts in Gainesville, Fla., at the Florida Friday Night Lights camp, and followed with another elite performance at Florida State's Seminole Showtime camp. Kirkpatrick did exceptionally well in Tallahassee even after chipping a bone in his hand at the Florida camp.

Scout.com's Florida recruiting analyst said of Kirkpatrick's performance in Gainesville, 'If Dre Kirkpatrick isn't the No. 1 cornerback prospect in the entire nation, I don't know who is. He has ideal size and covers people like a glove. Athletically, he's what you look for, and he loves to compete. He looked every bit like the five-star player he is.'

Kirkpatrick traveled with a couple of Gadsden City High teammates, including Scout.com five-star wide receiver Kendall Kelly, and made Tuscaloosa their last stop before heading home. They competed with other elite prospects, spent time with the coaching staff and several of the current Tide players.

'Jerrell [Harris] has got a lot bigger,' Kirkpatrick said of his former teammate, now a freshman linebacker at Alabama. 'I am going to work real hard in the weight room and bulk up if I want to get up to his size. He is doing really good down there.'

The Southeast's top defensive back has not named any favorites thus far in the recruiting process. It is evident that a few of the schools likely in the running to receive official visits include Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Michigan and Texas.

Kirkpatrick has taken several trips to Tuscaloosa and Auburn and has also visited Clemson, Florida, Florida State and Texas. Any coaching staff in the country would like to pull an early commitment from Kirkpatrick, but he plans to take all five official visits before making a decision.

A lot of top prospects do not take part in summer camps as they feel there is nothing left to prove. Kirkpatrick is always ready to compete, as evidenced by his summer-camp circuit, and is first in line at every drill.

'It was great to work out with coach [Nick] Saban,' Kirkpatrick said. 'Every time it's an honor to work out with him because he knows so much about the position. He told me I needed to get my hands strong.'

Several Alabama commitments are also participating in camp this week, including Scout.com four-star running back Trent Richardson from Escambia High School in Pensacola, Fla.

'There were some good players out there,' Kirkpatrick said of the Tide camp. 'Trent Richardson was there. He looked real good.'

'The head coach [Saban] coaches my position is the main thing that sticks out to me about Alabama. You don't have that same privilege with most of the other teams. Alabama's style of defense is very tough. They are really getting after it.'

Visit TideSports.com for Andrew Bone's recruiting coverage. Reach Andrew Bone at abone@scout.com.