South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
South Florida has a large presence
In addition to hosting title game, area provided Alabama with its secondary
Alabama junior cornerback Patrick Surtain II had some of his earliest football memories watching his father play in the Miami Gardens stadium, then known as Pro Player Stadium and now as Hard Rock Stadium.
On Monday night, Surtin could potentially finish his college career on top — should he also declare for the NFL draft afterward — in that same building when his top-ranked Crimson Tide take on No. 3 Ohio State in the College
Football Playoff national championship game.
“I remember certain things when he was playing for Miami, like him making plays,” said Surtain II of his father of the same name who was an All-Pro cornerback with the Miami Dolphins for seven of his 11 NFL seasons.
“They also had a great defense back then with him, Jason Taylor, Sam Madison, Zach Thomas, all those guys. I just remember him making plays out there, having fun.”
Surtain is one of four Alabama defensive backs that make up an all-South Florida starting secondary that will have a homecoming Monday. St. Thomas Aquinas alum Jordan Battle and Boyd Anderson grad Daniel Write make up the starting safeties, while Surtain and Miami Columbus’ Josh Jobe, who finished his high school career at Connecticut prep school Cheshire Academy, are the starting cornerbacks.
Surtain was left with a lot more than just playing memories from his father, who also coached him at American Heritage before sending him off to Tuscaloosa three years ago, putting him in position where he can now be a first-round pick if he opts for the draft.
“He’s taught me a lot about football — even more than football,” Surtain said. “He taught me a lot of things going into the game. I just carried and learned from him, and just going back home, he’s going to be there.
“I’m just looking forward to impress him. I know they’re going to be happy to see me; I’m going to be happy to see them. It’s going to be a great moment.”
Surtain has an interception return for a touchdown this season, along with 35 tackles and 11 pass deflections. Battle is third on the Alabama defense with 63 tackles. He also returned an interception for a touchdown this season.
Wright has 58 tackles, plus two interceptions — one for a score — and Jobe has 52 tackles, 11 pass breakups and two forced fumbles.
“We have such a great bond coming from out of the same area,” said Battle, a sophomore. “I grew up playing with players like D-Wright, playing against Pat, playing against Josh Jobe. It’s just very fun to be playing against and competing for a national championship now coming from the same area.”
Battle said South Florida prepared them for playing in big games.
“We grew up with speed — track, basketball, playing every sport,” he said. “We come out, we run ... that’s what we do.”
Battle gives St. Thomas coach Roger Harriott much of the credit for helping develop him.
“I love Coach Harriott, a very family man,” Battle said. “He taught me a lot, man. Just being disciplined, having great character. That’s what led me to getting here right now, where I am right now.”
Battle will actually be playing against the school he was committed to during his recruitment at Aquinas before flipping to Alabama.
“It’s kind of funny that, either school I would have went to, I would have been in the national championship,” Battle said. “I give all praise to Ohio State. Great coaching staff, great players. I just had to make the best decision for me toward the end to come to Alabama.”
Of course, it’s not Surtain’s first time back in South Florida for a CFP game. He was already starting as a freshman on the 2018 Alabama team that beat Oklahoma in the
Orange Bowl, a semifinal that season, before falling to Clemson in the title game.
“I just remember being a freshman out there, having fun, just winning the Orange Bowl,” he said. “I just look forward to the game ahead.”
In addition to Alabama’s all-South Florida secondary, the Crimson Tide have former St. Thomas Aquinas defensive lineman Braylen Ingraham, Chaminade-Madonna wide receiver Xavier Williams and Miami Carol City wide receiver Thaiu Jones-Bell.
Ohio State, which has recruited South Florida well in recent memory, doesn’t have South Florida recruits on its current roster, but its two top cornerbacks in Shaun Wade (Jacksonville Trinity Christian) and Sevyn Banks (Orlando Jones) come from within the state.