He came to the University of Alabama as one of the top athletes in the transfer portal, but can Jaylen Key do enough to earn a starting job and become an elite defender?
Key, a native of Tallahassee, Fla., made progress during his time at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He got to UAB in 2019 and became one of its best players in 2022. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound safety had 60 tackles, a sack, a pass breakup, two forced fumbles, and three interceptions last season. Key recorded 78 total tackles, two pass breakups, and three picks for his career. He enters a safety room in Tuscaloosa (Ala.) that has Malachi Moore, Kristian Story, Caleb Downs (freshman), Devonta Smith, Jake Pope, and Tony Mitchell (freshman). Key could be good for Alabama’s secondary, but does he dominate in fall camp?
RELATED: Alabama transfer safety Jaylen Key arrives for summer training
According to Pro Football Focus, he is graded as one of the top safeties returning to college football this fall.
Highest graded returning SEC Safeties🔥 pic.twitter.com/18BQhFQtWO
— PFF College (@PFF_College) June 29, 2023
He is ready to show the nation what he can do, but Key knows he has to put in the work.
RELATED: Alabama transfer safety Jaylen Key unveils his number for the fall
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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.
