Inside the final half-minute of the first half against Texas A&M last week, the Aggies, trailing by 15 points, had a perfect play called to beat Alabama’s defense deep and get back in the game.

Two A&M receivers ran deep routes to the left side of the field. One crossed into true freshman cornerback Patrick Surtain II’s zone. Sophomore safety Xavier McKinney rushed over to cover one receiver, leaving the freshman one-on-one with the other.

Using the speed that made him a top-five recruit nationwide, Surtain II, who was making his first career start, stayed with his man– keeping his eyes on his receiver– and plucked the slightly overthrown ball out of the air for his first career interception.

“I think that elevated everyone’s play; it excited everyone,” sophomore linebacker Dylan Moses said. “That was really big. … As far as the defense goes, that really boosted us up and got us hyped, and for the offense, that pretty much made them want to do what they had to do.”

Following a 20-yard return by Surtain II, Alabama’s offense got into field goal range in just one play. Instead of entering halftime leading by eight points and having just given up a big play, the Crimson Tide’s lead swelled to 18.

Surtain II has played in every game this season, one of three freshmen to do so on defense along with Josh Jobe and Eyabi Anoma. The others, however, haven’t had nearly as much playing time.

While it seems Surtain II, a Fort Lauderdale, Florida native, has secured a starting spot for now, very little was secure about where he would play college football until the last minute. He committed to Alabama on National Signing Day in February after a late push from the Crimson Tide won him over from LSU, which had long been the favorite to land him.

Less than seven months later, Surtain II made his Alabama debut in the second half of the game against Louisville, playing cornerback in Alabama’s nickel and dime packages. Surtain also practiced at the Star position during fall camp, so the coaches clearly think highly of his versatility.

Two weeks later, Surtain II was inserted into the starting lineup early on after Ole Miss scored a 75-yard passing touchdown on the game’s first play. Saban said Surtain II’s size was a factor in the decisions to play him against Ole Miss and Texas A&M.

“Patrick has done a really good job,” coach Nick Saban said. “He’s a bright young man. He’s been able to learn and grow at the position and be able to execute and do the things he needs to do. He fits our style very well in terms of what we want to do. We’ve been pleased with his progress.”

Coaches saw that potential in him while recruiting him years ago, and now his new teammates on the defense are starting to see it as well.

“Pat is another guy that comes and works every day,” redshirt junior linebacker Anfernee Jennings said. “[He’s] always here, always trying to learn and get better, and it’s showing. … When you put in the work and the time and all that, it comes natural.”