So Did Dre Kirkpatrick Just Sign With The Atlanta Braves?

Rick Chandler|published: Thu 5th February, 12:15 2009

National Signing Day jumps the shark on Wednesday as Gadsden High cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick plays Three-Card Monte with caps from Texas, Alabama and ... the Braves?

I guess that's an Alabama hat; not sure. Anyway, Nick Saban, that sly boots, has earned the nation's No. 1 recruiting class once again, as tabulated on aggregate by ESPN, Rivals and Scout.com, the nation's top three recruiting services. Rivals rated Alabama No. 1.

And to illustrate how silly the whole process has become, there is this bit of theater from Kirkpatrick yesterday, as he made his choice between Texas and Alabama.

Kirkpatrick, the nation's top cornerback, delighted the crowd in Gadsden City by setting up a Texas and Alabama hat. Then looked at the UT hat and said, "This hat right here. It don't have enough swag." So he pulled out a gym bag, asked his mom to open it up, pulled out a wrapped present, opened it, pulled out a bag, opened that, then looked out at the crowd and said, 'Y'all ready?"

"Alabama," Dre said, as cheers erupted and he put on a black, flat-brimmed Alabama hat. "I couldn't go (to Texas) when my home state got the same things to offer. They couldn't offer me nothing better than to stay home."

That should go over really well the first time he's blocked downfield by a Texas tight end.

Ohio State (Scout) and LSU (ESPN) were also touted as getting the No. 1 classes. respectively, from the other two services, while USC and Texas also ranked in the top five. Alabama impressed by getting running back Eddie Lacy, offensive lineman Brandon Moore, linebacker Tana Patrick and wide receivers Kenny Bell and Kendall Kelly on Wednesday.

Rounding out the top 10 are Florida State at No. 6, Michigan at No. 7, North Carolina at No. 8, Georgia at No. 9 and Florida at No. 10. Meanwhile, no one can figure out how linebacker Barkevious Mingo and running back Ronnie Wingo Jr. didn't end up at the same school.