Alabama safety Jordan Battle declares for NFL Draft

Alabama safety Jordan Battle declared for the 2023 NFL Draft, according to a statement released on his Twitter.

“First and foremost, I want to thank God for giving me the ability to play the sport I love,” Battle’s statement read in part. “I would not have wanted to spend the last four years of my college career anywhere else. My experience at the University of Alabama was nothing less than perfect.

“With that being said, I am grateful for all of the memories I have created at the University of Alabama. I am blessed and grateful to have played here and excited for the next chapter in my life as I enter the NFL Draft.”

Battle finished his college career with 252 total tackles, 143 solo tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, six interceptions, 10 pass deflections, one fumble recovery and three defensive touchdowns.

Battle aided Alabama to a Sugar Bowl victory over Kansas State to conclude his final season with the Crimson Tide.

He is widely regarded as one of the top defenders in the draft class.

As a member of the Class of 2019, Battle was a four-star prospect out of Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas, according to the On3 Consensus. He was the No. 7 overall prospect in the state, the No. 3 safety in the class and the No. 46 overall prospect in the class.

More on the 2023 NFL Draft

The 2023 NFL Draft is set to take place from Thursday, April 27 through Saturday, April 29 in Kansas City, Missouri. The event will be held at the plaza just outside of Union Station.

Round 1 of the NFL Draft is set to begin at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Apr. 27. Rounds 2-3 will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Apr. 28, and Rounds 4-7 will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Apr. 29. The draft will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on both ESPN and NFL Network.

To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility. 100 underclassman were approved for last year’s draft. 73 of those 100 underclassmen were granted special eligibility while 27 of them were underclassmen who had completed their college degrees.

The 2023 NFL scouting combine will take place from Feb. 28 through March 6 in Indianapolis.