If one was to take a poll for Alabama football players under the most pressure to perform this season, Patrick Surtain II would see his name appear a few times.
He’s had a good career to this point, but Crimson Tide fans want to see the former five-star from the 2018 signing class become a great player.
Surtain, a native of Plantation, Fla., returns as the most experienced starter (25 starts) in the secondary through two years.
He has totaled 79 tackles, 15 pass breakups and three interceptions in 28 career games for the Tide.
Last season, he posted 42 tackles, eight breakups and two picks. The 6-foot-2, 202-pounder has been confident about the growth of the defensive backfield, in terms of communication, physicality and playing fast, but Alabama must see it translate into creating turnovers, making tackles and playing sound football.
Surtain is already a preseason candidate for a couple of individual awards, but the former SEC All-Freshman honoree was recognized again this week. According to Pro Football Focus, he has been tapped as one of its top four cornerbacks in college football for 2020.
Surtain shares the honor with Derek Stingley (LSU), Ahmad Gardner (Cincinnati) and Shaun Jolly (Applachain State).
Even with the talent Alabama signed in its freshmen class, Nick Saban does not want to pull Surtain off corner. He has to be a lock down defensive back and prove to everyone he limit the production of the best wide receivers in the sport on a consistent basis.
A potential first-round NFL Draft stock for 2021 is riding on this for Surtain.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
