Joel Klatt shares best traits Jordan Battle has

Alabama is no stranger to producing elite defensive backs that go on to have long and successful careers in the NFL, and Jordan Battle just might be the next in line.

The star safety is readying for this month’s NFL Draft, and he’s got the eye of a number of NFL teams.

FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt outlined why he’s such a highly regarded prospects in a long look at the 6-foot-1, 206-pound Alabama defensive back.

“Battle is a guy that I really love watching on tape,” Klatt said. “You fall even more in love with him when you talk with people around the program, when you talk with coaching staffs that played against Alabama. All-American third team the last couple of years.

“And I don’t think that he’s got the natural ability that maybe some of the ‘Bama defensive backs have in the past, but here’s what he does have. Great instincts. He’s highly intelligent. He can play centerfield. He understands how to get after the ball and has good ball skills for the interceptions, and I think it’s his intelligence that is going to make him such a good and productive player early in his career.”

Jordan Battle also has plenty of experience, so he’s seen a lot of looks from opposing offenses.

In four years with the Crimson Tide he logged 251 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss, 1.0 sacks, six interceptions, a forced fumble and 16 pass breakups.

For Klatt, though, it’s his football IQ that puts him over the top as a prospect.

“This is what happens when you talk with people at Alabama, he’s going to know the system immediately,” Klatt said. “In fact, he’s probably the type of guy that in the first couple of weeks will be able to teach even veteran players the system. That’s how quickly he processes information. That’s how quickly he learns defensive systems. And it’s that type of player you can rely on to be dependable, in particular when you’re talking about a deep safety.”

The only real knock that Klatt had on Jordan Battle was that he doesn’t jump off the page from a physical standpoint.

Even though he’s not a physical freak, though, the Alabama star has enough in his arsenal that Klatt is very much a fan.

“He’s also a guy that will come up and hit. He’s not afraid of that,” Klatt said. “He can cover decently well. I think he’s a versatile player. I think he’s a very versatile player and as a versatile player you can get categorized as a hybrid player. Well guess what is valuable in today’s defense in the modern-day football? Hybrid-style players.

“So here’s a guy that is really intelligent, really instinctual, he can be productive, he’s a great team guy, he’s a great worker but, man, he just doesn’t have like the high-end skills that maybe the former ‘Bama secondary players have had.

“What does that mean? Draft steal. What does that mean? Probably going to start in the NFL.”