Jordan Battle discusses relationship with Nick Saban

Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Jordan Battle is on his way to the NFL Draft. After playing four seasons under Nick Saban, Battle is ready to take on a new challenge.

In his final game, a Sugar Bowl win over Kansas State, Battle was able to put a stamp on his legacy and celebrate the win with head coach Nick Saban. It was after the game that he was asked about his relationship with Saban.

“I feel like we had a great relationship,” Jordan Battle said. “We got more and more close as the years went by, whether it’s us having a little conversation on the side or coming to me asking him how was his day or how was his day going. How could we make it better?”

During his career, Battle played in 52 games, recording 252 tackles and six career interceptions.

“Just creating that bond with Coach Saban. Making him more outgoing with his players. I think I did a good job with that and I feel like me and coach have a lifelong friendship.”

Jordan Battle is one of the best safeties available in the 2023 NFL Draft, with ESPN’s NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranking him fifth among safeties ahead of the draft.

Nick Saban on frustration with recent teams

In recent years, Nick Saban has watched his Alabama teams take a fraction of a step backward. This has, in turn, led to some frustration.

“There’s no question about it, but some guys buy into it and some guys don’t, and just like our team last year, after we won in ‘20 and ’21. I was so frustrated with our team because we weren’t practicing, we weren’t preparing, we weren’t doing the things we needed to do,” Saban said.

“And we go play at Texas A&M and lay an egg, get behind 24-7, come back, get ahead 38-31 with five minutes to go in the game. I look at the scoreboard and I say, ‘What am I gonna say to this team if we win? We played so poorly.’ And the worst thing you can do, to me, in any sport, is play poorly and win. Because then nobody wants to respond the right way to correct the things you need to correct. So, it’s a really, really difficult task.”