The first of two Bengals 2012 first-round draft selections, Kirkpatrick was limited by injuries to five games ... Worked his way back from preseason knee injury to make debut in Game 8, but a concussion suffered in Game 12 at San Diego, combined with recurrence of knee injury, sidelined him for remainder of season ... A multiple first-team 2011 All-America selection at Alabama, he helped lead team in ’11 to its second BCS national championship in his three years at the school ... Chose to forego his final season of eligibility to turn pro.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS: Selected by Cincinnati in first round of 2012 NFL Draft (17th overall) ... Signed with Bengals on 5-18-12.
2012 RECAP: Played in five Games (Games 8-12) ... Had two tackles on defense and two on special teams ... Missed all four preseason games, as well as Games 1-7 of regular season, due to a knee injury ... Inactive for Games 13-14 due to a concussion suffered Dec. 2 at San Diego, and was inactive for Game 15 due to a recurrence of the knee problem ... Not on the roster for Game 16, as he was placed Dec. 25 on Reserve/Injured list ... Made NFL debut Nov. 4 vs. Denver, playing on special teams ... Saw first defensive action of his career late in the game Nov. 11 vs. N.Y. Giants (no statistics), replacing injured CB Adam Jones ... Saw his first extensive action on defense Nov. 18 at Kansas City, logging two tackles ... Had one special teams tackle Nov. 25 vs. Oakland.
COLLEGE: Played three seasons (2009-11) at Alabama, helping Tide to 36-4 record that included BCS national championships in ’09 (14-0 record) and ’11 (13-1 record) ... Played in 38 games, with starts in 25 contests (12 as a sophomore and 13 as a junior) ... Totaled 91 tackles, three INTs, 16 passes defensed, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a TD on a blocked punt return ... Started all 13 games as a senior for unbeaten BCS national champs ... Had no INTs as a senior (nine passes defensed and two forced fumbles), but analysts recognized opponents’ reluctance to throw in his area, and he still earned first-team All-America honors from Football Writers Association and Pro Football Weekly, along with second-team nod from Associated Press.
BRINGING THE 'SWAG': At Alabama, Kirkpatrick’s confident playing style earned him the nickname “Swag,” as in swagger. “It’s an attitude,” Kirkpatrick says. “It’s a brand. It just makes you feel good. You can’t teach it. I like to have a lot of swag about what I do, confidence in what I do. When you see me out there, you don’t have to worry about, ‘Is he nervous?’ I’m not nervous, because I know what I’m supposed to do, and I trust my technique.”
PERSONAL: Hometown is Gadsden, Ala. ... Attended Gadsden (Ala.) City High School, where he earned ratings among the elite college CB prospects in the nation ... Earned All-America honors from
Parade,
USA Today and Super Prep ... General studies major at Alabama ... First name is pronounced “DRAY.”
