[Bamabeachlivin]

GADSDEN | When they line up during football practice on the artificial turf behind Gadsden City High School, Dre Kirkpatrick knows what’s coming if he can hear teammate Kendall Kelly talking above the traffic noise from the adjoining highway.

Kelly doesn’t have a reputation for saying much while playing. But when he does, watch out.

“Every day, you don’t know what K is going to bring,” Kirkpatrick said. “When he gets out there and talking a little bit, I already know it’s time to step it up because he’s not a talker. When he does talk, he’s 100 percent ready.”

Even though the high school football season is still a couple of months away, Kirkpatrick has already been tabbed by some as the best prospect in the state, and top cornerback in the nation, while Kelly has been called Alabama’s premier wide receiver this year.

And each afternoon they challenge each other while the world goes by on U.S. Hwy. 759.

“It’s very intense, we go at it every day,” Kelly said. “Some days he might get the best of me and some days I get the best of him. Me personally, I think it’s made us better.”

Top 50 recruits in Alabama

[Stoney]

Saban has his eyes on these boys.