Bold predictions for the Alabama football defense.
Patrick Surtain will win the Thorpe Award
There is going to be stout competition for the Thorpe Award in 2020, but Surtain will be in the mix. He has the skills necessary to be the top defensive back in the country, and his leadership with this team will earn him the trophy.
With an inexperienced secondary, much will be needed from Surtain for Alabama to thrive. There will be plenty of times where Alabama puts him on an island and fills holes on the other side of the field. He has the talent to handle this in most cases.
Surtain will also be able to play against top receivers in 2020. George Pickens will see plenty of reps against Surtain when the Bulldogs play against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Surtain will have to have his best game against Georgia, but that can easily be the case.
Patrick Surtain is going to be one of the best defensive backs in the 2021 NFL Draft class, and there are only a couple of underclassmen that can compete for the Thorpe. The only name that truly scares me is Derek Stingley Jr. He will go into 2020 with a lot of hype, but I believe that Surtain has what it takes to be better. The fact that he is playing for Alabama football will help his odds.
He was a preseason watch list candidate, and I believe that Patrick Surtain brings home the hardware.