Wide receivers have grown more challenging to defend in recent years, but this appeared not to be an issue for a particular Alabama Crimson Tide alumnus. Patrick Surtain II might have already moved to the Denver Broncos, but his lessons from Coach Nick Saban have evidently remained with him. Everything was demonstrated during his significant victory at the NFL Honors. Patrick Surtain II has been named the AP Defensive Player of the Year for 2025. The Broncos cornerback excelled at stopping offensive players from making big plays, all while showcasing some of the most impeccable man coverage ever seen in league history.
Surtain ended a nearly fifty-year dry spell for the Broncos winning the accolade. The most recent individual to win it for Denver was Randy Gradishar, who was awarded the honor in 1978. Furthermore, he also drove his team towards collective achievement. Surtain managed to achieve four interceptions for a total of 132 yards and also recorded 45 combined tackles. The incredibly skilled cornerback was a significant factor in the Broncos returning to the postseason after a decade of being far from it.
Since he was selected ninth overall in 2021, all of these impressive achievements in the NFL were anticipated from him. During his time at Alabama, Surtain accumulated an All-American accolade and secured the 2020 SEC Defensive Player of the Year award.
At only 24 years of age, this indicates that both the Broncos and Alabama supporters have many more years to celebrate his achievements.
