Former Alabama Crimson Tide cornerback Patrick Surtain II enjoyed a tremendous career in Tuscaloosa and starred on Nick Saban's defense for three seasons.
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The Florida native is set to make the jump to the NFL in 2021, but surprisingly, he won't be the first of the Surtain men to play in the league.
Patrick Surtain II is following in his father's footsteps, as his old man had an illustrious 11-year career in the pros.
Early Life and College Career
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Patrick Surtain II was raised in Plantation, Fla., and attended American Heritage High School, under the coaching staff of his own father.
Surtain II was a five-star recruit, and the defensive back opted to take his talents to Tuscaloosa, joining one of the most elite defenses in the nation.
While at Bama, Surtain was immediately given reps on the field, playing in 40 games across his three years at the program. During that time, he racked up 116 tackles, four interceptions, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and 24 passes defended. He even scored a touchdown on a pick-six against Mississippi State last season.
He was crowned 2020 SEC Defensive Player of the Year as a unanimous All-American and was projected by mock drafts to be selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft after helping Nick Saban's squad beat Ohio State in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Some predict he'll be the first defensive player off the board in a class that boasts South Carolina's Jaycee Horn and Penn State's Micah Parsons.
Patrick Surtain's Dad: Patrick Surtain Sr.
5-star CB Patrick Surtain and his dad recap their weekend at #LSU, which included plenty of time to interact with the current team and incoming recruits. (VIP) https://t.co/WUAbNONpZu pic.twitter.com/tWQ9Y0IhKs
— Shea Dixon (@Sheadixon) January 15, 2018
The elder Surtain grew up in New Orleans. He earned his ticket to the league via Southern Miss, where he played against a few SEC teams in Florida, LSU and Alabama. Pat was a second round pick in the 1998 NFL Draft and played at a high level up until his retirement in 2008.
Surtain was a three-time Pro Bowl cornerback for the Miami Dolphins and earned First Team All-Pro honors in 2002. He logged 82 stars in seven seasons in Miami before joining the Kansas City Chiefs in 2005, where he'd play his final four seasons as a professional football player.
Throughout his career, Surtain recorded 37 interceptions, eight forced fumbles, two touchdowns and 547 tackles. He also made the playoffs in five separate seasons.
After his football career concluded, he focused on coaching and ended up becoming the head coach for his son's high school football team.
The bond between the Surtain men is certainly strong, and the younger Surtain will use what he learned from his father as he tries to produce an equally admirable NFL career.
The Jaguars and Jets might pass on him with the first and second overall picks of the NFL Draft in favor of Clemson's Trevor Lawrence, Ohio State's Justin Fields or maybe Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith, but Surtain will certainly hear his name called early and will live out his dream with an NFL team.
Whether it's the Cowboys or Eagles or anyone else that gives him the call, he'll probably just be happy to follow in his Pro Bowler dad's footsteps.
