Cincinnati's third-round pick in 2023, Battle took over as a full-time starting safety in his third pro season in '25 ... Led the Bengals and set career highs in tackles (112) and INTs (four) during the 2025 campaign ... He had starting stints in each of his first two years (2023-24), with both coming late in the season (started final seven games in '23 and final six in '24) ... Lines up primarily as a strong safety at 6-1, 215 pounds, and has recorded six career INTs in addition to 234 tackles ... He was a team captain and third-team All-American during four-year collegiate career (2019-22) at the University of Alabama, where he also helped the Crimson Tide win the 2020 national championship.
Career transactions: Selected by Cincinnati in third round of 2023 NFL Draft (95th overall) ... Signed by Bengals on 5-12-23.
2023—Played in all 17 games with seven starts as a rookie ... Started each of the final seven games at S ... Recorded 69 tackles (43 solos), with two sacks and four TFLs ... Also had five PDs and one INT ... Had 58 tackles over final eight games played ... Made NFL debut on Sept. 10 at Cleveland (no stats) ... Recorded first two career PDs and had two solo tackles on Oct. 8 at Arizona ... Led team with 11 tackles (10 solos) on Nov. 16 at Baltimore ... Made first career start on Nov. 26 vs. Pittsburgh and logged eight tackles ... Recorded first career sack on Dec. 4 at Jacksonville, bringing down QB C.J. Beathard late in fourth quarter to force FG attempt ... Had first career INT on Jan. 7 vs. Cleveland, picking off QB Jeff Driskel to end Browns' opening drive.
2024—Played in all 17 games with six starts ... Totaled 53 tackles (31 solos), one TFL, three PDs, one INT and one FR ... Added five special teams tackles ... Made first start of season on Dec. 1 vs. Pittsburgh and registered five tackles ... Posted season-high 10 tackles and recovered a fumble on Dec. 15 at Tennessee ... Recorded lone INT of season on Dec. 22 vs. Cleveland, picking off QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson in Bengals' end zone in fourth quarter ... Also had seven tackles (six solos) with a TFL in Browns game.
2025—Started all 17 games ... Led team with career-high 112 tackles (two TFLs) and career-high four INTs (tied for eighth in NFL) ... Also had career highs in PDs (six) and FFs (two) ... Added 13 special teams tackles ... Had INT in season opener on Sept. 7 at Cleveland, picking off Browns QB Joe Flacco in third quarter to set up Bengals FG drive; also logged career-high 12 tackles in Browns game ... Followed up with second INT on Sept. 14 vs. Jacksonville, intercepting pass thrown by QB Trevor Lawrence and returning it to Jaguars' 34-yard line to set up FG drive ... Became first Bengals player with INT in first two games of season since CB Ashley Ambrose in 1996 ... On Oct. 16 vs. Pittsburgh, picked off deep pass thrown by QB Aaron Rodgers in second quarter ... Tied for team lead with 10 defensive tackles and added two special teams stops on Nov. 2 vs. Chicago ... Recorded first career FF on Nov. 27 at Baltimore, punching ball out of TE Isaiah Likely's control before he crossed goal line, leading to a touchback ... Had eight tackles for third straight game and fourth INT of season on Dec. 14 vs. Baltimore, picking off QB Lamar Jackson at Bengals' 27-yard line in second quarter ... Forced fumble early in second half on Dec. 21 at Miami, leading to Bengals recovery and TD drive; added career-high five ST tackles in win over Dolphins.
College: Spent four seasons (2019-22) at Alabama ... Played 54 games with 44 starts, including 37 straight starts to finish career ... Totaled 251 tackles, six INTs and 16 PDs ... Selected a team captain as a senior ... Named third-team All-American and first-team All-SEC in both junior and senior seasons ... Three of his INTs were pick-sixes ... Helped Alabama earn berth in College Football Playoff in back-to-back years (2020-21), with a national title in '20 season.
High school/personal: Hometown is Fort Lauderdale, Fla. ... Attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale ... Selected to Under Armour All-America Game roster as senior, when he had 27 tackles, one sack and three INTs ... Also lettered in basketball ... Graduated from Alabama with degree in business family and consumer sciences in December 2022.
