On Wednesday, two fathers were featured on In My Own Words.
Both represent young men who guided the University of Alabama to a College Football Playoff National Championship in 2020, as Patrick Surtain Sr. and Gordon Jones spoke with yours truly of Touchdown Alabama Magazine.
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Surtain was the first of two interviews. He played cornerback in the National Football League for 11 seasons with the Miami Dolphins (1998-04) and Kansas City Chiefs (2005-08). After having success in the pros, he became a coach at Heritage High School in Plantation, Fla. Surtain coached his son, Patrick Surtain II, to being a five-star recruit and he signed to the Crimson Tide in 2018. In three years, Surtain grew to be one of the most consistent defensive players of the Nick Saban era.
Last season, he earned Unanimous All-American honors. He recorded 12 pass breakups (team-high) and one interception.
Surtain’s career ended with 27 breakups and four picks, including one returned for a touchdown. On Tuesday, he commanded the stage at Alabama’s Pro Day. The 6-foot-2, 208-pounder checked off every box in his pursuit of becoming a top-10 NFL Draft pick.
Blessed 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/lh8IPNbt5N
— Patrick Surtain (@PatSurtainll) March 25, 2021
His father is not only proud of him but also hails Surtain as the best cornerback in the draft.
“I am a cornerback connoisseur, so I study all of these guys,” Surtain Sr. said in comparing his son to other top corners.
“I try to watch all of their games. American Heritage is going to have three corners taken in the draft this year, so I take pride in studying them. I actually talked to Jaycee [Horn]. Really good dude. I know his father and I played against his father. The thing that separates Pat is probably everything. His athleticism, being at Alabama, being under Nick Saban, his understanding of the game, the defense they play at Alabama is the same way they play in the NFL. He has been training for this day for a long time, and all of those guys have natural, physical abilities. I think Pat separates himself by the level of competition at Alabama.”
Surtain played in 41 career games — 40 starts — at Alabama. He is set to be a dynamic playmaker in the NFL.
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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.
