Will Anderson shares takeaways from Alabama's National Championship last year

Linebacker Will Anderson has turned into one of college football’s biggest stars this season. Anderson believes that Alabama’s National Championship last season has had a great impact on his development this year. Alabama defeated Ohio State 52-24 in the title game last season, capping a perfect 13-0 season for the Crimson Tide.

Anderson only had three tackles in Alabama’s National Championship victory last season, but he still learned some valuable lessons from that game.

“Probably paying attention more to the details,” Anderson said about what he learned from Alabama’s National Championship last season. “I think last year, as a freshman, you really don’t have the type of focus that you have when you mature a little bit. So probably paying attention to the details, making sure I’m lined up right, making sure I’m not having any mental errors or anything like that, making sure I’m getting the calls. I think that was one of the biggest things last year was getting the call getting lined up right.

“That’s the experience I have now taking to, like, the national championship game. And have that experience under my belt to help me more.”

Whatever Anderson learned in his National Championship experience, it has undoubtedly translated to the field this season for Alabama. He has 97 tackles and leads the team with 17.5 sacks and 31 tackles for loss. Anderson was viewed as a snub for the 2021 Heisman Trophy after being left off of the list of finalists.

Anderson happy with Alabama’s defense entering National Championship

Alabama’s defense has been playing well over the previous few weeks. The Crimson Tide played well against Georgia in the SEC Championship game in December, and just held Cincinnati to six points in a 27-6 victory in the College Football Playoff Semifinal.

With the National Championship game next, Anderson thinks Alabama’s defense is coming together at the perfect time.

“Most definitely,” Anderson said when asked if Alabama’s defense is playing better. “But I think it all comes back to how, what I was saying earlier in the past few weeks, stuff like that, all the pieces are starting to fall together. Everybody is starting to play to the standard, play to the Alabama standard. Everybody is always focused on what we have to do. I think everybody on defense knows what we have to do.”

Alabama and Georgia will kick off at 8 p.m. ET on Monday night. Georgia is looking for redemption while Alabama looks to win back-to-back national titles.