UAB Graduate Transfer Jaylen Key Making Official Visit to Alabama

The safety listed the Crimson Tide as one of his six finalists after making an unofficial visit las week.

Stephen Lew-USA Today Sports

Even though the transfer portal is closed in terms of players submitting their names, the University of Alabama football program may not be done in adding players for the 2023 season. 

Monday, former UAB safety Jaylen Key was due to make an official visit with the Crimson Tide. Last week, after making an unofficial visit to Tuscaloosa, the sixth-year graduate transfer narrowed down his list of schools he's considering to Alabama, Florida State, North Carolina, Ohio State, Ole Miss, and Oregon. 

Alabama is interested in adding some proven experience in the secondary after recently losing some depth with the departures of cornerbacks Jahquez Robinson and Trequon Fegans. The Crimson Tide also had its top three safeties from last year all selected in the 2023 NFL Draft: Brian Branch, Jordan Battle and DeMarcco Hellams. 

Key, listed as being 6 foot 2, 185 pounds, was an All-Conference USA selection last year after notching 60 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss and three interceptions. He had a game-high 12 tackles at LSU. UAB was 48th in total defense last season, but 19th in pass-efficiency defense.

He recently told NoleGameday that his visit to Florida State "went great. Definitely a great experience. A building full of energy, coaches, great energy, players, great energy.

"I’d definitely say, like, the energy is big around here. The expectation to be good that’s always love; ever since I was a little boy, it was always that way. The work put in, most definitely. Over the past year, to see how it’s building up to be better and better to where next year definitely has a chance to be a great year."

See Also:

2022-23 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Transfer Tracker