Jaylen Key reflects on his decision to transfer from UAB to Alabama

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Jaylen Key joined the Alabama football program earlier this summer after five years at UAB, and Key has made an immediate impact in the Crimson Tide secondary.

On Tuesday, he made his first-ever appearance in the Naylor Stone Media Suite and shared the reason behind his decision to enter the transfer portal and continue his career at Alabama.

“It was just about preparing for the next level and finding the best place for me to do that as far as coming somewhere where the staff, the whole building just really accepts you,” Key told local reporters. “Really helps you come in and make it as comfortable as possible, and that’s what really went into everything. … The people are next to none here.”

Key has been Alabama’s starting free safety for all six weeks at the midway point of the 2023 regular season. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound defensive back has recorded 31 tackles, which ranks fourth on the Tide defense, and one interception in his sixth year at the college level.

Before electing to transfer for his last season of eligibility, Key had played in 43 games for the Blazers in nearby Birmingham. But even with Alabama’s well-known success for most of Key’s lifetime, he shared something about the Tide that he didn’t realize before he enrolled.

“How much it means to play here,” Key said. “That’s one of the biggest things I would say just coming from UAB to here, you don’t really understand. You kind of see it in the media or you might see it on social media, you kind of see it on the news or whatever.

“But you don’t really understand how much it means to actually play here until you actually put the jersey on and run out of Bryant-Denny Stadium.”

What has been the biggest adjustment from the American Athletic Conference to the SEC? Key said it wasn’t the speed of the game but rather the level of competition on a weekly basis.

“Every week, you’re going to be going against a good opponent,” Key said. “SEC play is going to be tough. Everybody wants to win. It’s going to be a dog fight. So just going into every week, you’re playing somebody that’s good every week. 

“You have to be mentally prepared to go into that. You have to be mentally prepared to go through practice every week to prepare for those games, which is pretty strenuous. You’ve got to be mentally prepared to get the playbook down for that week, the game plan.”

Coming from a Group of Five conference, however, Key never doubted that his abilities would translate to Alabama, where he has fit in well on a Tide defense that is hitting its stride.

“I wouldn’t say I had really any doubts about it coming in,” Key said. “Of course, you’ll always be nervous with moving to something new. That’s always something that’s human-like – you’re always going to be nervous. But I kind of already knew that it would work out for me when I did get here. Then it’s just about putting your head down and working.”

Key on Alabama’s stud freshman safety

Key has shared the back end of the secondary with freshman Caleb Downs, who has started all six games at the strong safety position. Downs has twice been named the SEC Freshman of the Week and currently leads Alabama’s defense with 47 tackles and two interceptions.

A veteran in college football, Key shared what has impressed him about the budding star.

“Man, the things he’s doing as a freshman are tremendous,” Key said. “The guy’s a ballplayer, I’d say. He can do so many things. He can cover. He can tackle. He can do so many things in space. And to be doing them at an early age and with the maturity that he has is pretty much next to none.”

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