An Alabama environment that builds winners
It’s no accident that Armour-Davis eventually became the best version of himself at Alabama. Armour-Davis accredits his development and the success of the program to head coach Nick Saban. Saban’s greatness is real, Armour-Davis says, and it stems from a culture of excellence that permeates to everyone below him.
“One of the main things Saban taught me, just as a football player and a person in general, is preparation,” Armour-Davis explained. “He prepares like no one else. And it doesn’t change for the opponent. It doesn’t matter if it’s the second week of the season or the national championship. He’s very intentional with every single thing that he does. And he forces you to be just as prepared as he is, or you’re gonna get left behind. Which is why I think you see a lot of his players be so successful because a lot of his traits tend to rub off on everyone else.”
Saban imbues in his players a champion’s process, but that isn’t reserved to mere preparation. When unexpected adversity strikes, you have to be able to persevere through it. Armour-Davis credits Saban for helping him see that as well.
“The world does not revolve around you at all,” Armour-Davis explained. “With obstacles, you can’t look at it and get stuck and wonder, ‘Oh, why me?’ You gotta figure out how to attack it, get through it, and keep going. I had a lot of things I had to get through in my four-year career there. I’m very thankful for Coach Saban, though. There’s not too many people in the world that’s as good as a person as him, if you ask me. He’s taught me a lot on and off the field. I’m very thankful for him, and he’s someone that I’ll always look up to.”
Teammates making each other better
Saban isn’t the only one who makes Alabama’s culture what it is. Elder players cycle through the ranks and uphold the standard each year. Armour-Davis references Patrick Surtain II, Trevon Diggs, and Shyheim Carter as teammates who helped show him how to work.
“It was more their actions than anything. Not just in games, but every day in practice. The way they showed up to work in practice when it’s Day 20 of fall camp, and everybody’s tired. Everyone’s back is hurting. Meeting rooms, taking notes every day. Not slouched in their seat at all. It was the little things like that that really showed me and everyone else how to be great. Guys like that are why Alabama is what it is.”
Going up against great receivers like Jameson Williams, John Metchie III, and others in practice every day also forced Armour-Davis to be at his best. Armour-Davis couldn’t help but smile when thinking back on some of the battles.
“It’s extremely fun. I mean, if you’re a competitor, it’s gonna be fun because you know that it’s gonna be good work. It forces you to get better. One maybe makes a play, we make the other. It’s always super competitive. From preseason to the national championship, it’s in our DNA. I think if anyone showed up to watch one of our practices, they would need the popcorn for sure because it’s gonna be a show.”
Carrying on Shyheim Carter’s role as No. 5
Surtain and Diggs both helped teach Armour-Davis how to be great. But the defensive back who had the largest impact on Armour-Davis was Carter. Carter wore No. 5 while he was at Alabama. When he left, Armour-Davis took his mantle, intent on being a similar leader for younger defensive backs.
“I wanted to take on the role of No. 5,” Armour-Davis said. “I looked up to Shyheim. He was one of the smartest football players and one of the most intelligent people that I’ve ever been around. There were times in the defensive meetings where it may be a question for the defensive line, but he’s shouting out the answer. He just knew the playbook that well, like the back of his hand. He was always communicating. And I was like ‘Man, I really wanna get to a point to where people view me the way I view him.'”
Armour-Davis had a great deal of respect for Carter, how he carried himself, and the work he put in. So when the No. 5 jersey opened up, Armour-Davis viewed it as an opportunity to carry on Carter’s legacy and uphold the standard.
“Something as small as a jersey number, when it came about, I wanted to try and embrace a similar role. I wouldn’t say I got to where he is because he was on a different level. But I think I got pretty close this past year. Guys would come up to me the way I would come up to him with questions, on and off the field. So I think I succeeded in what I was trying to achieve, getting jersey No. 5 behind Shyheim.”
Jalyn Armour-Davis: Certified football junkie
At one point in the interview, I asked Armour-Davis about his interests off the field. He ponders the question for a moment, then smirks.
“I kind of need to back away from football because I’m a football junkie,” he jokes.
Anyone can be a self-proclaimed football junkie, but talking to Armour-Davis, it’s easy to tell that he lives and breathes the game. He frequently watches 1-on-1s and battles that feature his favorite cornerbacks and speaks about how he applies that knowledge on the field. It’s the kind of knowledge that only comes with years of work and study. The kind of energy that only comes with a passion to be great.
By now, Armour-Davis feels comfortable fulfilling a multitude of roles. He’s played in the slot, and most recently, on the boundary. He’s played zone and man. But there’s one technique that’s his favorite.
“I definitely pride myself on being able to do everything, but man-to-man … as a corner, that’s gotta be your answer. A big thing in Coach Saban’s defense, as a corner, you’re gonna be pressed up. You’re gonna be in a receiver’s face every single play. And you have to know how to play man-to-man to succeed in his defense. So for me, being a starter, that’s something I’ve had to develop. I can be better, but I’ve gotten to a point where I was good enough to play on coach Saban’s defense.”
Armour-Davis’ man-to-man technique
Asked further about his man-to-man technique, Armour-Davis gave an incredibly insightful answer. His technique for a given week is something he figures out far before each game, just by watching the tape.
“On Monday and Tuesday, I’m breaking down film from receivers. Seeing the type of receiver he is. What he likes, what he doesn’t like. A lot of times, [my technique] may have to do with how fast I think the receiver is. I trust my speed, but you have to understand who you’re playing against as well.
“So, for instance, when you’re asking why I might shoot the inside hand and open up to the outside a little bit, I may do that against a receiver that’s not as fast, and I may do it against a receiver that doesn’t like to get hands-on. They like free releases. So I’ll get a quick jam into them, but I’ll also know this guy is most likely not going to run by me. I’m already in a half-turn, so I can anticipate the sit on any type of break he may do.
“Or it may be a faster receiver. So you know you have to get hands on this guy because he’s very quick. That may be a time where I would do something we call an inch reset. I may not shoot very early in the down because if you miss, you could be in trouble. I may inch back a little bit to let him get a release, and right out of the release, then I’ll kick into the guy but still be square and not so much in a half-turn. So I can still get disruption on him and be on top of the guy and not have to worry about this being a footrace.”
NFL cornerbacks Armour-Davis tries to emulate
Talking with Armour-Davis, what stands out is not only the depth of knowledge he has but also how freely it flows. It comes as no surprise that Armour-Davis keeps his eyes on NFL cornerbacks. He’s constantly looking for pieces he can add to his game. He has a running list of his favorites, but former Lions star and current Eagles cornerback Darius Slay is the first name that comes to mind.
“Darius Slay is a guy I watch the absolute most out of everyone. I just think we have a similar style of play, similar body style. I probably weigh a little bit more, but I think in terms of speed, quick feet, agility, just the way that we press, or the inch reset that I was speaking on. That’s something I see that he uses a lot. And he finds a way to do it all over the field because he travels with the No. 1 receivers.”
Armour-Davis also mentions Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell and Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson as sources of inspiration before coming to his former teammate: Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II.
“He’s been a technician, and we all know that,” Armour-Davis said of Surtain. “Even with him being a rookie this year, he’s showed a lot of people that he may be a rookie, but he doesn’t look like one. With his technique, he never panics. There hasn’t been many times where I’ve seen a receiver make him change his plan. He often makes the receiver change their plan, and that’s something I try to add into my game.”
For Armour-Davis, the NFL is just another opportunity
Armour-Davis had a successful final season at Alabama. But listening to his voice, you can tell he wanted to do more. Armour-Davis was dealing with a hip injury for the latter stretch of the year and missed most of the College Football Playoff. It’s human nature to dwell on the past — whether anything was left on the table.
But now, Armour-Davis is turning his eyes forward. He’s getting healthy and training for the NFL Combine. He knows what he’s capable of when healthy, and he’s intent on getting back to that point. But Armour-Davis isn’t thinking too far ahead, either. He knows that to stay true to the process, he has to focus on the present.
“Just taking it day by day, step by step, 1% better, and just winning the day. That’s been my main thing. Just winning that day and not thinking about yesterday or what I’ll feel like tomorrow.”
Armour-Davis hasn’t been met with the fanfare of past Alabama cornerbacks, but he’s not worried about that. He’s not overthinking anything or dwelling on what might go wrong. More than anything, Armour-Davis is grateful.
“Just to be in this position period, to even have these types of discussions, is a positive thing. I know, especially for me, I haven’t experienced anything like this. But I’m confident in what I’ll be able to showcase.”
Winning the day to win it all
When you ask a prospect about their goals, you get a range of different responses. Some want to be first-round picks. Some want to be the best at their position. Armour-Davis undoubtedly has that competitive edge, but he instead emphasizes team accomplishments in his answer. He wants to win and be a factor in the winning. Coming from Alabama, he knows how important the process is to accomplish that.
“One thing I can say about my football career, dating all the way back to middle school: losing was never really part of it,” Armour-Davis said. “Middle school, we didn’t really lose. High school, we won three state championships out of four. And we all know what it’s like at Alabama. So it’s just not really in my DNA to be okay with losing. Not losing a game, not losing a rep. That’s the main thing: to win, and be part of the winning.”
Armour-Davis, true to his thoughtful form, expands on his answer. He wants to make sure he enjoys the NFL, and that he properly cherishes an opportunity that few ever see.
“As stressful as it can be, as stressful as we make it sometimes, it doesn’t get much better than that. It’s the ultimate dream as a young football player.”
But as he finishes his answer, Armour-Davis adds one last word — just to make clear what’s most important. “Take advantage of every opportunity I have. Have fun with it. Win.”
That starts by winning the day — one day at a time.