Will Anderson reveals message to Dallas Turner after Alabama-LSU game

Alabama linebacker Will Anderson has become a leader on and off the field for Nick Saban’s Alabama defense. His willingness to lead by example as an underclassman and take freshmen under his wing puts him in an unorthodox position to speak on his teammates. One of the young contributors he is most proud of is fellow linebacker Dallas Turner.

Dallas Turner entered the lineup opposite Will Anderson on the flanks of a 3-4 defense after injuries to Christopher Allen and Drew Sanders. After entering the season expecting nothing more than mop up duty, Turner has stepped into the starting lineup as Alabama battles for the SEC West title.

After the 20-14 win, where Will Anderson and Dallas Turner played a major role, the young leader addressed his younger counterpart.

“I went up to him at the end of the game and I told him how proud of him I am,” Anderson told the media during his postgame press conference. “Everyday he comes the practice, he works hard, he watches film all the time, he asks questions. He wants to learn football, it’s the most important thing to him. I’m so proud of him, he stepped up taking a big role when we have people down and that’s all that I can say. He loves football and he’s hungry.”

Alabama defenders endorse unlikely Heisman candidate

For the first time in quite a while, a defensive candidate is attracting some Heisman buzz. Since Charles Woodson won the award in 1997, former Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o (2012) is the only defensive player to finish in the top three in voting.

With the lack of a true quarterback candidate this season, Alabama’s Will Anderson has begun to raise eyebrows. He is dominating the SEC on a weekly basis, recording 10 sacks and 17 tackles for a loss on the season.

The latest performance against LSU was truly special, sacking quarterback Max Johnson 1.5 times and getting four tackles for a loss.

Alabama linebacker Henry To’o To’o said it’s just more than Saturday, as Anderson has been doing it on a weekly basis. He thinks the edge rusher deserves every bit of Heisman consideration.

“You guys see it every single Saturday,” To’o To’o said. “Will [Anderson] is all over the place, making plays. You know, I think Will should be up there, I really do.”

To’o To’o also went on to talk about how Anderson and fellow defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis make things easier for him as a linebacker.

“It definitely gives us more time, more space to be able to read and react. Our front line does a tremendous job of keeping us clean back there and having us less time to cover.”