Trevon Diggs discusses Jalen Hurts pick-6 INT, how Nick Saban 'trained me good'

Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs’ interception on Monday night was an all-Alabama affair. 

Quarterback Jalen Hurts’ pass intended for former Alabama wideout DeVonta Smith was picked off by former Alabama cornerback Trevon Diggs. Of course, Hurts played at Alabama prior to moving to Oklahoma to finish his collegiate career. 

Diggs jumped the route on the pass intended for Smith, Smith fell down, and Diggs returned the interception 59 yards for six points.

.@TrevonDiggs ALL DAY! EVERYDAY!#PHIvsDAL | 📺 @espn pic.twitter.com/NQGgolWU8E

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) September 28, 2021

“It feels good just being able to get your hands on the ball as a defensive player,” Diggs said after the game in a press conference. “It just feels good all around.”

The trio’s former head coach Nick Saban got a shoutout from Diggs, who was likely to play wide receiver when arriving in Tuscaloosa in 2016, for his coaching abilities. 

“I appreciate Coach Saban,” Diggs added. “He trained me good, and that’s who converted me to a corner. He does teach that.”

The interception was his third of the season, which is tied for the most in the NFL this year. He is the only player to record a pick in each game so far, becoming the first Cowboys player to do so since Everson Walls in 1985.

The interception also fulfilled a promise Diggs made to his son, Aaiden.

Defense was the best way for Diggs to play in the NFL

Diggs was 247Sports’ No. 115 player overall, and the fourth-best “athlete” in the country. The Maryland native started as a receiver, following in the footsteps of his older brother and Bills star wideout Stefon Diggs, but Saban told him there was a path to the NFL if he moved over to defense for the Crimson Tide. 

“I was like, ‘All right. I’ll give it a shot. I’ll try it out,'” Diggs said. “And then one camp I did and it fit, and I just stuck with it and I tried to protect my craft as much as possible. I tried to work as hard as possible. As soon as he said that, that’s what my main focus was and it worked out.”

Diggs had 37 tackles, eight pass breakups, three interceptions and two forced fumbles for Alabama. He returned two of those turnovers for touchdowns. 

As a senior he made the All-SEC team, and Diggs was selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft by Dallas.