Will Anderson: 'The ball's gonna keep rolling' at Alabama post-Nick Saban

When Alabama takes the field Aug. 31, it will mark the beginning of a new era. That will be Kalen DeBoer’s first regular-season game as head coach after Nick Saban announced his retirement in January.

Although the GOAT won’t be on the sidelines anymore, the bar remains high in Tuscaloosa. But former Alabama star Will Anderson said he expects the Crimson Tide to live up to those expectations now that Saban is starting his next chapter.

By bringing in DeBoer – fresh off a national championship game appearance at Washington – Anderson said Alabama brought in a coach with a proven track record to follow in Saban’s shoes. In fact, during his coaching career, DeBoer has a 104-12 record. That’s why Anderson doesn’t think the program will miss a beat.

“Honestly, I think the ball’s gonna keep rolling,” Anderson said on The Rich Eisen Show. “I think they’re in great hands. [DeBoer] comes from a winning culture, he’s won everywhere he’s been. I think it allows the players to be a little bit more free and relaxed a little bit, which I think is a good thing nowadays.

“I think Coach Saban left a really great standard there. A lot of great discipline, a lot of great people there, a lot of great players he recruits. And I know that the coaching staff, they’re gonna come in and do their thing.”

Anderson flourished under Saban’s leadership, including a 2021 season in which he finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting. That year, he finished with 102 tackles, 34.5 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks as Alabama made a run to the national championship.

All told, Will Anderson finished his Crimson Tide career with 205 tackles, 62 tackles for loss and 34.5 sacks. He also had an interception as a junior in 2022. He then went on to become the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year last season as the Houston Texans made a run to the playoffs behind Offensive Rookie of the Year CJ Stroud.

But Anderson still keeps in touch with his former teammates, and he’s hearing good things about what DeBoer and the new Alabama staff is doing. That’s why he’s also sharing in the excitement about the new regime.

“Just talking with the guys, they love it,” Anderson said. “They’re excited about it. So I can’t do nothing but love it, too, and be excited about it and wish them the best.”

The Kalen DeBoer Era at Alabama will officially get underway Aug. 31 when the Crimson Tide take on Western Kentucky at Bryant-Denny Stadium.