Jordan

Battle

An accomplished four-year player who played over 3,000 snaps for the vaunted Alabama defense, Battle (6’1/209) is a well-proportioned box defender who posted 221 tackles, 14 tackles, and five interceptions while starting 39 games over the past three seasons. The two-time, First Team All-SEC safety lined up in at free safety 64% of the time and Though he’s likely too big to be lined up on NFL-caliber slot receivers, lining up there just 14% of the time this year, Battle is very effective when breaking downhill and lowering the boom from the second and third levels, as is reflected in his 85.2 coverage grade. He held his own with a solid 4.55s 40-yard dash (81st%) and 1.55s 10-yard split (91st%), but poor sub 30th percentile marks in the 3-Cone (24th%), vertical (9th% - 29.5”) and broad jump (27th%) drag down his overall athletic profile.

Battle (6'1/210) has established himself as one of the best players at the position in the Power Five and has been one of the best in the SEC for the past two seasons. According to Pro Football Focus, Battle was the highest-graded SEC safety both in 2020 (80.9) and 2021 (88.0). He finished out the 2021 season with 85 total tackles (50 solo), three passes defended, three interceptions and two touchdowns.

Battle (6'1/210) could have gone on to the NFL during the 2022 NFL Draft, but chose to hang back with the Alabama Crimson Tide for another year. That’s something that could prove advantageous as he looks to be one of the best players at his position in the upcoming draft. That’s reflected statistically, too. According to Pro Football Focus, Battle has posted a 91.1 overall grade and a 91.2 coverage grade. It will be interesting to see just how much he continues to be a force to be reckoned with in 2022.

Battle (6'1/210) has been a highly productive player since arriving as a freshman in 2019. He recorded 151 tackles, 4.0 TFL, seven PBU, four interceptions while returning three of them for touchdowns over the last two seasons. His 111 interception return yards last year was the most in the SEC as he shifted between the slot, box and free safety depending on the situation, allowing a strong 57.6 NFL passer rating in coverage. Battle improved his missed tackle rate from 13.6 percent in 2020 to 8.5 percent last year, he should be a favorite for preseason All-SEC honors.

After Monday’s game, there were quite a few players that had left the program. Two of the major names on the Crimson Tide defense, including Battle (6'1/210) have decided to return to the program for another season. Battle was one of the best safeties in the country, showing good range and dynamic play-making ability, including two pick-sixes on the season. He had a total of three interceptions and 85 tackles on the year.

Battle (6'1/210) is a former four-star prospect who made four starts in 2019 as a true freshman before taking over as a starter last year. He logged 820 snaps 96 tackles, 5.0 TFL, five PBU and two interceptions in his two year collegiate career. Battle has shuttled from box, to free safety, to covering the slot and is at his best when crashing the line of scrimmage or covering opposing receivers, as his 81.5 coverage grade will attest. Battle has all the tools necessary to be one of the top safeties selected in next year’s draft.

Targeting calls are a hot button topic nowadays, but the call on Battle was pretty easy. He clearly led with the crown of his helmet into Ohio State TE Jeremy Ruckert’s head. It’s unfortunate Battle is now out of the biggest game of his career so far, but this was textbook targeting. Battle will not be able to return to this game.

Battle has worked with the second-team defense and had an interception on Saturday. Even with a strong showing at fall camps, it’s unikely he sees much playing time as a freshman. The former four-star will likely only play if an injury occurs or one of the starters needs to sit out a play or two. If he begins to practice with the starting defense his odds of playing time will dramatically increase.

Battle (6'2/185) made his pledge to the Buckeyes just days after taking an official visit to the program. He had been courted by multiple blue-chip programs, with Miami probably representing the greatest threat to OSU in this race. No dice for the Hurricanes, though. Battle plays safety at St. Thomas Aquinas, but the expectation, here, is that he will work as a cornerback once he signs on the dotted line in Columbus this winter. He possesses palatable length and physicality for the collegiate level.

The Crimson Tide lost five-star S Daxton Hill to a Michigan flip on Wednesday, but filling that vacuum, Battle is spurning the Buckeyes in favor of the defending champions. He had been committed to Ohio State since late June. 247Sports analyst Charles Power refers to the 6-foot-2, 185-pounder as “reliable and versatile” and possessing of “good instincts and playing speed.” He does note that Battle is not necessarily as flashy as some of the other top defensive back prospects in the class, but there’s a lot to like here regardless. On the outlet composite board, the Fort Lauderdale native lands at No. 77 overall in the 2019 class.