On September 29, 2024, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (left) and cornerback Patrick Surtain II celebrate their NFL victory over the New York Jets.(Photo by Adam Hunger/AP)
In the 2019 and 2020 Iron Bowls, Auburn quarterback Bo Nix faced Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II. They are now Denver Broncos teammates.
In his fourth season since Denver selected him at No. 9 in the 2021 NFL Draft, Surtain leads the NFL in interception-return yards and has been selected to the first team All-Pro thrice.
Despite being a rookie, Nix has already garnered praise after making 11 starts after being selected as the 12th selection in the NFL Draft on April 25. Surtain also thinks the Broncos quarterback will get more praise in the future.
“He’s him,” Surtain said. “I told him, ‘Man, you’re not just playing for Offensive Rookie of the Year anymore. It looks like MVP territory right now.’”
“But honestly, it’s all a testament to him. He puts in the work every week, and it shows in his preparation. He stays late, watching film and perfecting his game. What you’re seeing on the field is a direct result of that commitment. When you have performances like this, it’s not a surprise because he’s fundamentally sound and works hard every week.”
Surtain made those comments after the Broncos defeated the Atlanta Falcons 38-6 on Sunday. Nix had a career day, setting new highs in passing yards, touchdowns, completion percentage, and passer rating. He completed 28 of 33 passes for 307 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions, finishing with an impressive 84.8% completion rate and a passer rating of 145.0.
In contrast, his NFL debut had been a rough one. On September 8, Nix completed 26 of 42 passes for just 138 yards, with no touchdowns and two interceptions, in a 26-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. His completion rate was 61.9%, and his passer rating was a low 47.5.
“Our league is all about learning and growing week by week,” said Denver coach Sean Payton. “And pretty soon, you reach a point where you just know, ‘I belong here.’ And it’s clear that he belongs.”
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