Cincinnati's third round pick in 2023, Battle earned a starting safety role in the back half of his rookie season ... He played in all 17 games in 2023 and started each of the final seven ... Finished with the fifth most tackles on the team (69) while adding one INT, five PD and two sacks ... Recorded 58 of his 69 tackles over final eight games ... Was a team captain at the University of Alabama, where he totaled 251 tackles and six INTs over four-year career and helped Crimson Tide win 2020 national championship ... Named twice to All-America Third Team during college career.
Career transactions: Selected by Cincinnati in third round of 2023 NFL Draft (95th overall) ... Signed by Bengals on 5-12-23.
Pro career: 2023—Played in all 17 games, starting final seven at S in his rookie season ... 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 with 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 tallied eight total tackles ... Had seven tackles on Dec. 4 at Jacksonville, including first career sack when he brought down QB C.J. Beathard late in fourth quarter to force Jaguars FG attempt ... Posted 10 tackles in fourth straight start on Dec. 16 vs. Minnesota ... Tallied seven tackles (four solos) with a TFL on Dec. 23 at Pittsburgh ... Led team with eight tackles (six solos) on Dec. 31 at Kansas City ... Recorded first career INT on Jan. 7 vs. Cleveland, picking off QB Jeff Driskel to end Browns' opening drive in first quarter.
College: Spent four seasons (2019-22) at Alabama ... Played in 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 Crimson Tide 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 the Under Armour All-America Game roster as a senior, when he recorded 27 tackles, one sack and three INTs ... Also lettered in basketball ... Graduated from Alabama with a degree in business family and consumer sciences in December 2022.
