A four year player on a Nick Saban defense, Alabama safety Jordan Battle will hope that experience in a pro style defense will translate into draft stock as he enters the 2023 NFL draft.
He is everything you need to know about the Crimsons Tide’s secondary leader:
Vitals
Height: 6-1
Weight: 209
Class: Senior
40 Time: 4.55
Strengths
An experienced, savvy, and athletically gifted defensive back who can play in multiple spots in the secondary. Jordan Battle has been one of the most consistent players on an elite Alabama defense over the past four years, starting the vast majority of games. Last year Battle made his presence felt on the field, wracking up 71 tackles, two passes defended, and an interception on the season.
As a pass defender, Battle does well for his size and surprises with excellent burst and loose hips. In the box he can be schemed up to drop into coverage on wide receivers, and be trusted to maintain solid coverage with them in the short half of the field. Battle understands what is in front of him and where he needs to be during a play, showing a veteran savviness in play recognition, and exploding to key in on plays and disrupt them with big hits and getting his paws on the ball. Slot receivers get swallowed up and punished when they enter his area, and he is too quick to get baited on most routes.
As a run defender Battle is a hammer of a tackler, willingly laying out the wood on ball carriers. While he isn’t the most consistent tackler, Battle shows tenacity and willingness to stick his nose in a pile and find the football to make hits, he is not one to shy away from contact. He excels in the box and uses his quick explosion and fluid hips to burst into plays and end them quickly should they get hung up on the line or break outside.
Weaknesses
As stated earlier, Battle is not the most sure tackler in the world. He consistently takes poor angles the further the play gets from the line of scrimmage, and is susceptible to getting punished by bigger backs or shiftier playmakers who can out speed his angles. Battle will need to work on perfecting his form tackling and understanding which angles to take, he shows a clear willingness to learn, and should be able to make that transition into the next level.
While Battle is solid in pass coverage, it can quickly become a problem if a receiver takes him over the top as he lacks the elite speed and second gear needed to play out wide, or if a receiver carries his hips inside he can get lost quickly. It is best to scheme Battle into plays where he is not left on an island streaming up field.
Projection
Jordan Battle is an experienced, versatile, savvy, and athletic playmaker for a program known for bringing excellent defensive backs into the NFL. His experience and athletic traits will allow him to be a day one starter for whatever team takes him, and Battle will be trusted in multiple coverages and formations early. He was a clear leader in the Alabama locker room and that will likely translate to the next level, which is always a plus side for younger players. Battle will need to correct some of his form tackling and the angles he takes, but if he can figure his immediate issues out, he could quickly turn into one of the better safeties in the league.
Projection: Top 50 Pick
