Trevon Diggs arrived at Alabama as one of the top athletes in the nation in 2016.

As a freshman, he played wide receiver and safety. It wasn’t until his sophomore season that he made the switch to cornerback when coach Nick Saban suggested a position move.

Now, Diggs is considered one of the top corners in the 2020 NFL Draft class as he goes through his schedule at the NFL Scouting Combine. But it’s because of the work Diggs put in and the advice he received from Saban and his brother Stefon Diggs that made this possible.

“He said, ‘You’re going all the way to Alabama, you’re going to have to compete. You’re going to have to step it up,’” Diggs said. “So, I went down there with the mindset of I’m trying to get on the field in some way, shape or form, whether it was special teams, offense, defense. I was trying to get on the field. That’s exactly what I did. I was like, ‘Whatever it is, I’m going to learn, I’m going to do and just dedicate all my time to this.’ And that’s what happened.

“I ended up getting on the field, so I was happy with what I had accomplished at the University of Alabama.”

Diggs answered a variety of questions from behind the podium Friday, as expected, but two of his best responses were about how much his college coach and brother mean to him.

On Nick Saban: “There’s about 100 things I learned from Coach Saban. I love watching Coach Saban and how he moves and how he is as a person. He just taught me how to be a better man. He taught me how to be a great father. Just watching him and seeing the things that he has accomplished and his confidence, it’s just amazing.”

On Stefon Diggs: “Me and brother’s relationship, we’re really close. I always ask him stuff. I look at him like my father. I call him anytime I need anything. He doesn’t spoil me. He doesn’t babysit me. He doesn’t tell me what I want to hear, so I just respect him for that. He just keeps me hungry and keeps me humble and just teaches me a lot about the game.”

But there was still plenty of football talk, too.

Alabama cornerback Trevon Diggs

Diggs chose not to play in the Crimson Tide’s bowl game against Michigan after Alabama did not make the College Football Playoff for the first time since its inception. He instead shifted his focus to preparing for the NFL Combine and the draft, which begins April 23.

Prior to that decision, he played well in the Crimson Tide’s secondary, allowing a passer rating of just 44.5 when he was targeted, according to Pro Football Focus. Diggs tied for the team lead in pass breakups with eight and tied for second on the team with three interceptions. He also registered 37 tackles, including half a tackle for loss, and two fumble recoveries.

One game, however, that Diggs did not shine was against LSU. But he tries to learn from it.

“I always watch that film,” Diggs said. “That’s a game that I try to piggyback on. I take my losses as lessons. Bounce back, come back and just take them as lessons and come back strong. I feel like I finished the year strong after that game. You’ve just got to take those lessons.

“You’re not going to win every game.”

During his time at the NFL Combine so far, Diggs said he has met with the Minnesota Vikings -- his brother’s team -- Indianapolis Colts, Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks. He has several meetings scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 29 -- the day before defensive back drills.

After initial conversations with teams, Diggs admitted he allows his athletic ability to take over at times and scouts have told him they want to see him stay more disciplined in his technique. But the feedback has been mostly positive, and Diggs is approaching the annual scouting event with the same mindset he had when he arrived at Alabama -- as another opportunity.

“They say I have good ball skills. I’m rangy. I can run routes with receivers because I know the route tree,” Diggs said. “So, it’s a lot of things that they say are good, but it’s a lot of things that I have to work on, too. I’m just ready to learn and learn more and learn more about the position and get more reps about the position. I’m just excited to learn.”

*** Steve Helwagen of 247Sports contributed to this report.

Contact Charlie Potter by personal message or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).