Alabama dismisses DB Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. after second arrest, DeBoer says

Alabama has dismissed defensive back Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. Coach Kalen DeBoer announced the move Tuesday, days after Kirkpatrick's second arrest in about a year. In a statement reported by CBS Sports, DeBoer said Kirkpatrick "did not live up to the standards and expectations" he has set for the team.

Kirkpatrick was arrested Friday on misdemeanor charges of doxing and harassing communications. According to ESPN, the charges stem from messages he allegedly sent to a police officer involved in his 2025 arrest. Court documents first reported by WBRC and The Tuscaloosa Thread allege that the messages were profane and that Kirkpatrick posted a photo of the officer and the officer's family to Facebook. CBS Sports reported that the officer works for the University of Alabama police.

The case adds to an existing record. In 2025, Kirkpatrick was arrested in Tuscaloosa on three counts of reckless endangerment, plus attempting to elude and speeding. He was suspended in October and missed the rest of that season. He rejoined the team in the spring but still faces a separate misdemeanor charge from June for leaving the scene of an accident. Alabama suspended him before Saturday's game against Texas A&M. DeBoer said Monday that Kirkpatrick was no longer with the team, and The Spun reported the formal dismissal later that day.

On the field, Alabama loses depth more than a starter. ESPN listed Kirkpatrick, the son of former Crimson Tide All-American cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick Sr., as the second-string inside cornerback. He had played in every game this season before his suspension and had four tackles. CBS Sports counted 28 games and 17 tackles over his three seasons in Tuscaloosa, mostly as a reserve in the secondary.

What it means for LSU

The Tide have already played once without him. They beat Texas A&M 31-20 to get to 6-2, a win that came after back-to-back losses: 20-17 at home to No. 2 Georgia and 26-10 at No. 14 Tennessee. The offense scored 27 points total in those two losses after averaging nearly 50 a game during a five-game winning streak. The defense has allowed about 21 points per game across eight games and has given up at least 20 in each of the last three. That stretch includes 20 to a Texas A&M team that is now 4-4.

Alabama doesn't play again until Saturday, November 7, when it visits No. 15 LSU on ABC. The open date gives defensive coaches time to sort out who plays nickel and who backs up the inside corner spot. LSU's résumé includes a 35-6 win over the same Aggies team Alabama just beat. With two losses already, the Tide have little room left in a crowded SEC race, so how the reworked secondary holds up in Baton Rouge will draw attention. Losing a reserve inside corner matters most against offenses that spread the field with three or more receivers.

Texas A&M, coming off the loss in Tuscaloosa, visits South Carolina the same day on ESPN. Season details for both teams are on The Southern Line's Alabama and Texas A&M pages.