Nick Saban on Jordan Battle: He's a complete player, helping others play better

Alabama head coach Nick Saban has coached his fair share of elite defensive backs during his time with the Tide, and safety Jordan Battle may be the next best one. Saban pulled back the curtain and spoke on Battle and what makes him such a complete player.

“Well Jordan’s first of all a very bright guy, he’s got really good work ethic, he loves the game, he loves to play, he loves to practice, he sets a good example, he’s a good leader, he’s got a really really good understanding of everything that we’re doing in the secondary. Of course he’s got a lot of experience but he’s a bright guy and because he’s very conscientious to go with really good ability, he’s got really good size, he’s improved his ability to cover people I think a lot last year and this spring and this fall so far,” Saban said.

Battle had an electric year last season racking up 86 tackles, six pass break ups, and three interceptions. But his best skills may may be his ability to quickly turn defense into instant offense, with two of his three interceptions from last season being returned for touchdowns with a total of 111 return yards on his picks.

CLICK HERE to subscribe for FREE to the On3 YouTube channel

Battle earned various accolades from his individual performance from last season, earning All-SEC First Team honors from both the Associated Press and the conference coaches as well as first team All-American by Pro Football Focus. But, Saban said one of this best traits was his ability to elevate others around him through his leadership and communication on the field.

“I just really think he’s a complete player and I think he’s helping other players play better with his leadership. Communication is so important in the secondary and when you have confident guys that aren’t afraid to call out, it helps other the people around them play with more confidence as well and he’s certainly contributed to that in a very positive way,” Saban said.

Battle decided to the return to Alabama for his senior season, along with his senior safety partner in crime DeMarcco Hellams, who also had three interceptions on the year last season tying Battle and Jalyn Armour-Davis for the team lead. The Crimson Tide bring back a ton of talent and experience in the secondary, who are coached by Saban and led by Battle. This combined with the elite players in their front seven playing complimentary football can elevate the secondary even higher, potentially making them one of the top defensive back units in the country this upcoming season.