Bengals Select Jordan Battle in Third Round
The Cincinnati Bengals selected Jordan Battle with the No. 95 overall pick in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Battle is the seventh Alabama player drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft, joining the likes of Bryce Young, Will Anderson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Brian Branch, Tyler Steen, and Byron Young.
The highly ranked four-star safety left the state of Florida and came to play for Nick Saban in 2019. Battle made an immediate impact upon arriving in Tuscaloosa, earning a starting job late in his freshman season.
Battle cemented himself as a starter and leader in Alabama's secondary in Alabama's 2020 national championship campaign. Since earning a starting role, Battle never looked back, starting 44 games during his four seasons at Alabama.
In addition to winning the national title in 2020, Battle was a key factor in two SEC Championship teams in 2020 and 2021. After his senior season, Battle was selected as a captain alongside Bryce Young and Will Anderson.
In his collegiate career, Battle recorded 252 tackles, one sack, six interceptions, and three touchdowns. He tied for a team high of three interceptions in 2021, but was the only one to return an interception for a pick-six, of which he did twice.
In his upperclassman seasons, Battle became one of the most elite safeties in all of college football, earning second team All-American honors in 2021 and 2022. He also was elected to All-SEC first team in both 2021 and 2022.