Jaylen Key is a late bloomer who had 4 offers coming out of high school before he settled at UAB.

Now the defensive back is headed to the SEC after he on Friday announced a commitment to Alabama. Last season, he made 60 tackles, 4.5 TFLs and 3 interceptions during his first full season as a starter. His 72.9 PFF defensive grade ranked sixth among all safeties in C-USA.

Key chose Alabama over his home-state Florida State, Ohio State, Oregon, Ole Miss and North Carolina. In recent weeks, Key took official visits to Oxford, Tallahassee and Tuscaloosa. He also unofficially visited Alabama before the official visits.

Key is the second defensive back to join the Tide after Trey Amos, a cornerback from Louisiana. He’s the 5th transfer addition overall for the Tide.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder is originally from Tallahassee and played his high school football at Gadsden County High with his senior year being played at Amos P. Godby High. At Gadsden, his head coach was Corey Fuller, who is now FSU’s director of football relations.