Jordan Battle Talks Playing His Hometown School in Week 1

Alabama safety Jordan Battle, a South Florida native, discussed earlier this week about facing off against the Miami Hurricanes in week one.

"It's the same feeling for every game," Battle said. "But being out of Miami, it's gonna be a great experience. My hometown team. It's gonna be a great game, and a great one for the fans as well."

Battle, a former four-star recruit reflected on his recruitment back in 2019 and how Nick Saban was the deciding factor in choosing Alabama over Miami. "Miami is a great school, Coach Diaz is a great guy," Battle said. "But Coach Saban came along and recruited me very well. He's a DB coach. A DB guru. So, that's what made me choose Alabama."

Since 2009, the Crimson Tide have had eight defensive backs drafted in the first round and another four in the second.

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As a freshman, Battle appeared in all 13 games making four starts. He recorded 30 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one pass breakup, an interception and one interception. Last season, Battle became a full-time starter and finished third on the team with 66 tackles, he also added three tackles for loss, four pass breakups and one interception.

Battle was added to the Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List and was a Preseason Second-Team All-SEC selection.

The Crimson Tide are squaring off against the Miami Hurricanes for the first time since defeating them 34-13 in the 1993 Sugar Bowl to win the national championship.