It has taken him four years, but Jalyn Armour-Davis is set to be a starter for Alabama on defense.
He endured a serious knee injury before the start of his freshman season, and it caused him to get recruited over three times.
RELATED: Jack Martin, former Troy punter, commits to Alabama via transfer portal
Despite the mishap, the Mobile (Ala.) native did not give up. Armour-Davis kept working, and the coaching staff witnessed his determination throughout his time. Nick Saban fell in love with the size, length, athleticism, and ball skills of Armour-Davis during the 2018 recruiting cycle.
He’s played in 18 games in the last two years, but he has mostly served as a reserve cornerback and a core player on special teams. The 6-foot-1, 192-pounder had a breakout moment in front of Crimson Tide fans on A-Day.
He recorded three pass breakups and made it difficult for Javon Baker and Traeshon Holden to create separation.
Armour-Davis also showed his toughness in run support, as he stuck his nose in and made tackles.
The redshirt junior finished with three stops, including a pair of solo tackles. He earned the nickname “Kick-Slide King” from his teammates, and now has the trust of Coach Saban. Armour-Davis is in a position to be Alabama’s starting cornerback, opposite Josh Jobe for the first-team defense. He posted a video to Twitter with the caption: “The Money On The Phone!”
He knows NFL Draft pundits are watching.
The Money On The Phone‼️📞 #RollTide pic.twitter.com/YmXz3rJgwn
— Jay-D‼️🌊 (@JayArmourDavis) May 15, 2021
One dominant season will open Armour-Davis to be a high draft pick. He has to fend off Ga’Quincy “Koolaid” McKinstry and Khyree Jackson (JUCO transfer) to win the starting job, but his chances are looking strong right now.
*Get the BEST Alabama football insider information, message board access, and recruiting coverage today! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our subscriber-only content!*
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.
