Alabama Football: Denver Broncos select NFL legacy with No. 9 pick

Alabama Football gained its first first-round pick Thursday night when the Denver Broncos selected Patrick Surtain II. Before the younger Surtain ever arrived in Tuscaloosa, football experts were confident he was destined to become an NFL player.

Like DeVonta Smith, Patrick Surtain II took a low-key, often quiet approach to become an Alabama football star. His Crimson Tide career stats are impressive but they do not reflect how good PSII was. In three Crimson Tide seasons, PSII made 84 tackles, including six stops for a loss. He had four interceptions and a fumble recovery. In addition, he defended 24 passes. The last number is the most impressive because it reflects the respect opponents had for Surtain’s skills. Last season he was targeted only 48 times and allowed just 273 yards from 21 completions. Despite teams shying away from him, he led the Alabama Crimson Tide with 12 pass breakups last season.

Surtain was chosen as the 2020 SEC Defensive Player of the Year and was a consensus All-American. He will be remembered as one of the greatest cornerbacks in Alabama Football history.

Now it is time for PSII to move up to the level his father excelled at in 11 NFL seasons. Playing for the Miami Dolphins and the Kansas City Chiefs, Patrick Surtain was an outstanding defensive back. The elder Surtain started in 131 NFL games and made 37 interceptions in his 163-game NFL career.

If PSII is close to being as good as his father the Broncos will be delighted. Some NFL experts think the younger Surtain can out-do his dad. Patrick Surtain was a second-round pick and played at 5-feet-11. PSII is 6-feet-2, giving a major physical advantage over many NFL receivers.

Recently, Nick Saban described his star cornerback.

"Pat’s got great physical ability, he’s got great length. But he’s smart and very, very instinctive. So he always plays faster in the game. Because he is smart, he does a great job of preparing."

What more could an NFL team want than such a glowing endorsement by college football’s best defensive back coach?

Speaking more about his belief Patrick Surtain II will have a great NFL career, Nick Saban said,

"We do this thing where each player has an assignment in terms of a scouting report. He gives a better scouting report than I would give for what his part of it is, and I think that’s really important when you’re a pro player because preparation is really important because you know you’re always gonna play against a great player."

The Denver Broncos got a great one in PSII. If the young man can live up to the advance praise and reach his potential, he will surpass his father’s NFL career.