Jordan Davis on Alabama linebacker Will Anderson: 'He's a game wrecker'

Alabama linebacker Will Anderson may be on the outside looking in when it comes to the Heisman Trophy, but the fact that Anderson is at all in consideration should reveal his prowess.

The Heisman Trophy has not been awarded to a defensive player since 1997, when Michigan’s Hall of Fame cornerback Charles Woodson earned the distinction, and though Anderson is an unlikely candidate to win, his impact in the game is near undeniable. Take it from Jordan Davis, Georgia’s star defensive tackle, who sang praise for Anderson and what he’s accomplished this season at Alabama.

“He’s a great player. He’s a game wrecker, watching his film and just seeing him,” Davis said on the SEC Championship teleconference. “He’s explosive. He’s definitely one of those guys you have to make sure to keep contained. It’s great to see him play, but we just have to make sure that we game plan for him and that we protect well up front on the offensive side and give Stetson some time to throw.”

Davis and Anderson are two of the best defenders not just in the SEC, but in the entire country. And this weekend, come SEC Championship time on Saturday, they’ll face off with the stakes at an all-time high.

Nick Saban makes Will Anderson’s Heisman Trophy case

Anderson, a sophomore linebacker from Hampton, Georgia has quickly burst onto the scene as a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender this season — perhaps less so in terms of odds, as he’s listed at +8000 as of this week. But in terms of impact, he’s more than deserving. Anderson has anchored the Alabama Crimson Tide defense all year, racking up 85 total tackles (49 solo stops), two passes defended, one forced fumble and 14.5 sacks, a total that leads the country. The numbers don’t lie, but they also don’t tell half of the story, according to Saban, who said Anderson has done as much for Alabama as any player ever has before.

“I think he’s been one of the most productive players in college football as a defensive player,” Saban said. “He’s done everything that we’ve asked him to do, he’s a very consistent player, he’s very disciplined in terms of doing his job and does it with tremendous effort and toughness. So, I don’t know that there’s a lot of good football players out there on both sides of the ball, but he’s done as much for our team as anybody ever has.”

Anderson first made an impact for Alabama last season, as a true freshman, earning the starting jack linebacker spot for the eventual national championship-winning Crimson Tide team. He was one of the most impactful freshmen in the country, and his honors — SEC All-Freshman, second team All-SEC, FWAA Freshman of the Year — certainly back it up. This season, though, Anderson has taken his productivity up a notch, with already twice as many sacks and the postseason still on schedule.

The only issue, as Saban points out, is that Anderson may not necessarily fit the mold of a typical Heisman Trophy winner. Even the last defensive winner, Woodson, served as a kick returner too. No linebacker has ever won the Heisman Trophy, and the highest finish by any individual who played exclusively on defense was second place. Saban said it’s tough to compare apples to oranges, but the case can be made for Anderson.

“I don’t know how that equates into recognition or how you compare him to other positions or how you compare him to other players in the country,” Saban said. “Because I don’t get to see those guys all the time. But he’s done as much for us as anybody could ever hope for.”