Jordan Battle Speaks Highly of Jay Valai

Jay Valai is one of many new staff members for Alabama this season. Valai is taking over for Karl Scott as the new cornerbacks coach and safety Jordan Battle speaks very highly of him.

"He always brings a smile to the meeting room and on the field”, said Battle. He keeps us all energized and he is a great leader for the cornerbacks. He keeps the corners every day after practice and gives them extra work. They are getting better."

Valai came to Alabama after one season as the cornerbacks at the University of Texas. Previously, Valai was the cornerbacks coach at Rutgers in 2019 after served as the defensive quality control and assistant defensive backs coach for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018. He also spent time as the defensive quality control coach for Georgia in 2016 and 2017.

Valai was a four-year letter winner at Wisconsin, earning Second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2008 and 2009. He was also a captain on the Badgers 2010 Rose Bowl team.

Alabama has a major void to fill at cornerback with the loss of Patrick Surtain II. However, secondary figures to be a strength for the Crimson Tide in 2021. Starters Battle, Malachi Moore and Josh Jobe are back this season. Brian Branch, DeMarcco Hellams and Daniel Wright all started multiple games for the Tide last season.

Jobe will replace Surtain II as CB1 in Alabama's defense. A number of guys including Jalyn Armour-Davis, Ga'Quincy McKinstry, Khyree Jackson and Ronald Williams Jr. will be in the mix to start opposite Jobe this season.