John Metchie reveals best cornerback he faced in college

Former Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver John Metchie is still on the mend after tearing his ACL in the SEC championship game against the Georgia Bulldogs. Although he’s still on the road to recovery, Metchie is still in Indianapolis, taking in the sights and sounds of the NFL combine. While taking part in media day interviews on Wednesday, the former Crimson Tide wideout revealed what college corner gave him the most trouble.

According to George Stoia, Metchie’s biggest defensive adversary shared the same locker room as him.

“Alabama WR John Metchie tells @BenverBroncos #Broncos Pat Surtain II is the best corner he went up against in college. Said Surtain helped him become one of the best receivers in college football,” wrote Stoia, via Twitter.

Surtain was taken with the ninth overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos. The six-foot-two corner from Plantation, FL, spent three seasons at Alabama and was Metchie’s teammate for two of those seasons.

We will never know for certain who got the best of each other during practice for the Crimson Tide. But it is clear that iron sharpens iron in their situation as Surtain was matched up against one of the best college receivers in Metchie. And Metchie faced off against one of the now best young corners in the NFL.

Metchie on possible reunion with Jones in New England

With the oodles of former Alabama Crimson Tide football stars in the NFL today, it’s only inevitable that a few college teammates end up on the same team in the pros — but AFC East defenses better hope John Metchie doesn’t end up in Miami with former teammate Jaylen Waddle. Metchie believes it could be a lethal duo.

“I think it would be a little unfair if Waddle and I kind of played together,” Metchie said at the NFL combine in Indianapolis.

In three seasons at Alabama, Waddle caught 106 passes for 1,999 yards and 17 touchdowns before being selected 5th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. Metchie had a bit more production, hauling in 155 receptions for 2,081 yards and 14 touchdowns in four less games than Waddle.

If Metchie has a rookie season anything like Waddle’s, the Dolphins (or any team for that matter) will be lucky to have the Alabama star on their roster. Waddle caught 104 passes on 140 targets for 1,015 yards and 6 touchdowns, quickly becoming Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa‘s No. 1 option in the passing game, and will likely continue that trend in year two.