J.D. PicKell: Will Anderson, Dallas Turner form 'lethal' pass rush for Alabama

Alabama will boast one of the top pass rushes in the nation this upcoming season. Their defense features a handful of future profession prospects led by Will Anderson Jr., who would be one of the top picks in the 2023 NFL Draft is everything goes as expected for the Crimson Tide standout.

Elsewhere, Dallas Turner is lurking in Anderson’s shadow – but not for long. The returning sophomore racked up just 30 total tackles as a linebacker in 2021, but compiled 8.5 sacks during his true freshman campaign. On3’s JD PicKell believes that the former Five Star Plus+ recruit is poised for a huge season alongside Anderson.

“Alabama will without a doubt have an extremely lethal pass rush,” PicKell said. “A guy that – maybe you heard of him – you have his name is Will Anderson Jr. and he is a freak show coming off the edge of Alabama. Like, he absolutely just ruined their spring game. They had to take him out and say ‘go chill out on the bench for a little bit, we’ve got to run our offense and you’re messing it up.’

“And so you can probably deduce that [by saying] okay, you got a freak show on the edge, you’re going to have to double him. If you’re the opposition, you’re going to have to put two guys on Will Anderson Jr. Okay, double him. Well, guess what? That leaves one extra guy that you don’t have block in Dallas Turner. Dallas Turner in Tuscaloosa – they think he’s pretty good too. And he’s also going to wreak havoc on your offense.”

Anderson led the nation in 2021 with 17.5 sacks and led the Crimson Tide with 57 solo tackles. His defensive prowess has him tabbed as one of the best players in the sport and a Heisman candidate as well as an early favorite for the top selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Alongside a budding Turner, the two could become the most lethal one-two pass-rushing punch in the nation by the end of the season before Turner takes over the roll of defensive leader in Tuscaloosa this time next year. Still, they have the whole season to learn from one another and for Anderson’s leadership qualities to rub off on the former blue-chipper.

“Whichever way you slice it … you just can’t afford to double both these guys. Oh, by the way they have some other defensive linemen down there,” PicKell said. “They have some other linebackers [at Alabama] – Henry To’oTo’o – that can also play quite a bit. So, [opposing] offensive lines, there’s just not enough guys to block the guys that Alabama has coming.

“Simple arithmetic.”