It took three rounds of the NFL Draft, but Jordan Battle is in the National Football League.
The Cincinnati Bengals took him at No. 95 overall from the University of Alabama. Battle, a South Florida native, became a productive safety for the Crimson Tide during his four years. He came in as a four-star recruit in 2019, but he helped the Tide to a College Football Playoff National Championship in 2020 and two Southeastern Conference Championships in 2020 and 2021.
Cincinnati is a team that is in contention for a Super Bowl, especially with what it has on offense.
Battle wants to bolster its defense in the AFC North to make it an unstoppable force. He spoke to reporters after the first day of rookie minicamp about how playing at Alabama has prepared him for the NFL.
“In coming from Alabama, the defense is complex,” Battle said. “The guys who played there know you have to be smart to get on the field. You have to be comfortable in the playbook in any situation in a game or practice. You have to play with your mind free and play fast.”
Battle’s football intelligence won the Bengals’ coaching staff over in the draft process.
“That was the goal going into every interview,” Battle said about getting teams to like him.
“It was how can I make these guys want to draft me. It was about showing off how smart I am. I kind of shy away from trying to say that, but I have to understand that it is a gift to be smart on the field and take it all in. I’m a guy that can learn quickly and take it to the field. I’m a guy who is in his studies a lot and trying to play as quickly as possible.”
Battle has his rookie number and contract signed for the Bengals.
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