2023 NFL Draft Player Profiles: Alabama S Jordan Battle

From now through the 2023 NFL Draft, we hope to find and profile as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top 10 picks, through to Day 3 picks and priority undrafted free agents. Today we’re going to profile Alabama Safety Jordan Battle.

#9 Jordan Battle/S Alabama – 6’1 210 (Senior)

MEASURABILITY

The good

— Large size and frame with bulky, physically imposing appearance
— Size creates punch and ability to throw weight around, strong upper body to make arm tackles
— Impact player when he trusts what he reads, what he sees, is able to click/close and drive the ball downhill or under cover
— Threat of return with ball in his hands from INTs, nose for end zone
— Versatile and wore many hats on NFL-like defense
— As a tackler, seeks the ball and attempts to snatch the ball away while still being able to unwrap the ball
— Can turn and run into cover, plays well in man-marking, and stays in phase
— Uses Speed ​​Turn to take good angles on the ball in zone coverage
— Great initial experience at the top school
— Durable and has not lost time

The bad

— Doesn’t always play to size, would like to see him more aggressive and trust himself
— Not the impact hitter his build would suggest, ready to be physical but tends to walk on the ball or fail to finish/help on tackle, wants to see a consistent aggressive and hitter mentality
— Will miss tackles and get stiff in the hole from running backs, needs to play moderately
— Will not always read and diagnose reports, can be fooled and be late with his eyes
— It lacks true NFL-level fit and home
— Wasn’t as productive/effective senior season

organic

— 22 years old, will be 23 in December
— Three-year full-time starter, 44 career starts for Crimson Tide
— Career stats: 252 tackles (6.5 TFL) 6 INTs, three pick sixes
— 2022: 71 tackles (0.5 TFL) 1 INT
– Third-team AP All-American in 2021 and 2022
— Became a starter as a sophomore (made four starts freshman season)
— Four Star Recruit from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida chose Alabama over Florida, Ohio State, Pitt, Michigan, among many other offers
– Originally committed to the state of Ohio but swung to Alabama
— 27 tackles, three INTs as a senior in high school

band breakdown

Battle was a guy who caught my attention while watching 2022 NFL draft prospects a year ago. So it was exciting to focus on him this season. Battle is prototypical in size and looks great as you step off the bus. At his best he looks like a first round safety with a combination of size, punching power, instincts and man coverage ability.

If he trusts his eyes, he does a great job of breaking and playing on the football, especially coming downhill and continuing under throws. Made a living playing in the under zone, reading the quarterback and breaking the ball. examples.

Battle can also turn and run and cover over the top and has the ability to play man or zone cover. He also has the size and willingness to tackle and I like his ball-seeking mentality, always trying to snatch the football out but not at the expense of his ability to get the ball carrier down.

But Battle didn’t always feel like a top prospect. His band was hot and cold. As a tackler he needs to be more aggressive. Play with his size, yell down hill and trust yourself. He’s a little scared of making a mistake. Twice in the games I’ve seen him play he’s been pretty poorly armed, including by Texas RB Bijan Robinson, one of the top prospects for his position in this year’s draft.

I see similar problems in these two clips. In the first case, he plays the ball and doesn’t touch the catch point, which is partly responsible for allowing reception here. In the second, he fails to help gang tackle and pulls up too early and Georgia’s tight end gets a point.

And in Alabama’s disgruntled loss to Tennessee, Battle allowed the reception that set up the Volunteers’ game-winning kick. He reads the route, sees the quarterback staring and pumping, but doesn’t move on until it’s too late. This should have been a breakup, not a catch.

Conclusion

Overall, Battle has had many ups and downs on the tape. The talent is there and he doesn’t lack much physically. He’s not an A+ athlete, but he can line up anywhere on defense and more than hold his own. If he can commit to whatever tools he has, he has the talent to be a beginning caliber security enthusiast. He works best in a strong zone/quarter defense where he can line up close enough to the LOS to play the run and be able to turn and run to carry the seams without it to ask to cover a ton of land. My NFL comp for him is Chuck Clark, but Battle can be better than that with the right coaching.

Projection: early-mid day two

Depot Draft Grade: 8.0 – Round 3 (Potential Starter/Good Backup)

Watched games: vs. Georgia (2021), vs. LSU (2021), in Texas (2022), in Tennessee (2022)