Jordan Battle Focused on Leadership

Alabama safety Jordan Battle spoke to the media on Thursday and talked about what he’s focused on improving this offseason.

“Focusing on leadership, that’s the main thing for me,” Battle said. “Getting better in coverage. Sometimes, I get a little lazy in my coverage, so just locking in every play, making sure I’m on my P's and Q's every play and locked in on the receiver, locked in on the defense, getting the corners the call, getting the call from linebackers and making sure everybody’s on the same page.”

The rising senior brings a wealth of experience and production to the Crimson Tide defense as he enters his third year as a starter. This past season, Battle racked up 86 tackles, three pass breakups and three interceptions, which earned first-team All-SEC and third-team All-American honors.

He single-handedly may have saved Alabama’s season when he pulled Auburn running back Tank Bigsby out of bounds, stopping the clock and giving the Tide an extra 40 seconds late in the fourth quarter. It allowed Bryce Young to orchestrate a 97-yard drive and send the game into overtime. Alabama would go on to win 24-22 in four overtimes.

The following week against Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, Battle came up big late in the game, delivering the final knockout punch with a 42-yard pick-six.

Battle also spoke about his decision to forgo the NFL draft and return to Tuscaloosa for his senior season.

“I’m very excited to return,” Battle said. “I planned to come back to get my degree in December and hopefully to compete for another national championship this year, as well, with this team.”

He joined Henry To’o To’o and DJ Dale as players on the Alabama defense returning for their senior season.

“I feel like that’s something that fuels us individually,” Battle said. “That’s just something that goes with the Bama standard, coming to Bama. That’s what’s instilled in you. You wanna win, and if you don’t win, you’re still hungry. You’re hungry for more. I think that’s the main thing with the decision to come back for us individually.”

Battle will be one of several leaders on this Alabama defense in 2022. He anchors a secondary that figures to be much improved from a year ago.