Alabama
Will Anderson, Bryce Young’s Impact Felt Beyond the Field
Within the wee hours of the morning on Jan. 11 within the comfort press convention room someplace at Lucas Oil Stadium, the participant portion of Alabama’s media availability after the nationwide championship loss to Georgia was wrapping up.
In a now viral second, Alabama head coach Nick Saban requested the moderator if he might maintain up the press convention and went on to heap reward on his two sophomore captains Will Anderson Jr. and Bryce Younger. He already knew then what he is aware of now and reiterated at SEC Media Days on Tuesday: Anderson and Younger are indispensable to this crew.
And whereas that will appear apparent with Younger successful the Heisman trophy in 2021 and Anderson successful the Bronko Nagurski trophy for the most effective defensive participant in faculty soccer, it is not simply their expertise Saban knew he would want to depend on this season.
“We have had some nice influence gamers, however by no means one on offense, one on protection, of the caliber that these guys have been in a position to play on a constant foundation,” Saban mentioned.
“However I feel most likely larger than that’s the influence that they’ve on the gamers round them. These guys set an excellent instance. They’re gamers that different individuals on our crew can emulate in a optimistic approach due to the instance that they set. These guys are very serving to their teammates when it comes to they actually do care about serving to different individuals for his or her profit.”
Final yr, management, or the shortage thereof, was a repeated them in Saban press conferences and media availabilities all through the season. That does not seem like it will likely be an issue this yr. Together with Anderson and Younger, Jordan Battle was additionally considered one of Alabama’s representatives at SEC Media Days, and Saban mentioned all three are scheduled to graduate in December and are the proper of individuals and leaders for the Crimson Tide.
They’re all members of Alabama’s management council which the gamers talked about throughout spring soccer. Younger and Anderson have been hesitant early on within the season to step up as leaders final yr due to their age, however that’s not an issue.
Now coming into their junior seasons, each gamers are championship-minded. Regardless of the person accolades and SEC championship, final season was a “failure” as a result of it didn’t finish with a nationwide championship win. And now they’re locked in on getting the remainder of the crew to purchase into that customary.
“The management function is vital, however who you’re main— the entire crew— them shopping for into that and being keen to work, makes it simpler or more durable,” Younger mentioned. “However we’ve been fortunate to have the crew now we have. They’ve been tremendous receptive. They’re guys which can be tremendous hungry and desperate to play to that customary, to be held accountable, to be pushed.”
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Younger mentioned having the ability to lead this crew is an honor for him.
Whereas Younger is extra subdued and quiet, Anderson has at all times gave the impression to be extra of a vocal chief, and that is what he desires to be remembered as for his time at Alabama.
“I simply what to point out that I’m an excellent chief,” Anderson mentioned.
“I really like my teammates. I’m very supportive. I’m very optimistic, very energized, and at all times have a smile on my face. I wish to go away an excellent legacy at The College of Alabama.”
And he is properly on his option to that. Anderson led the nations in sacks final season and completed fifth in Heisman voting, simply exterior of a finalist spot to earn a visit to New York with Younger. The Alabama quarterback was requested about his teammate’s deservedness for a Heisman trophy, and Younger mentioned he wished Anderson acquired to expertise all that he did in NYC.
However first, he took it as a chance to handle the kind of individual Anderson is for the crew.
“Everybody sees the output he has on Saturdays and the way wonderful he’s on the sector, however individuals do not at all times get to see how exhausting of a employee he’s, how a lot he means for us from a management standpoint, how he can deliver alongside the youthful guys, and the way a lot of a vocal chief he’s for us as a crew,” Younger mentioned about Anderson. “But additionally how good of a human he’s.”
Anderson and Younger have been chosen by their teammates as crew captains as true sophomores and are actually absolutely embracing that management function as they transfer into probably their final season’s with the Crimson Tide.
Saban does not like comparability, however he was certain to pile extra admiration on his two finest gamers, saying they’ve contributed as a lot from a management standpoint as any participant ever in his program.
“And we have had some actually good leaders in our program and group,” Saban mentioned. “You could not ask for 2 higher individuals. I’ve at all times mentioned that when the most effective gamers in your crew are actually good individuals with nice angle and nice mindset, it is actually useful to growing the kind of crew chemistry it is advisable to have a profitable crew.”
Alabama
Oklahoma DC Zac Alley Alabama Postgame
Carson Field has worked full-time in the sports media industry since 2020 in Colorado, Texas and Wyoming as well as nationally, and he has earned degrees from Arizona State University and Texas A&M University. When he isn’t covering the Sooners, he’s likely golfing, fishing or doing something else outdoors.
Twitter: https://x.com/carsondfield
Alabama
Alabama Football at Oklahoma Injury Updates
NORMAN, Okla.–– The Alabama football team stayed relatively healthy in last week’s game against Mercer after suffering a few season-ending injuries in the weeks before with guys like Cole Adams and Que Robinson.
Adams, Robinson and defensive back on Keon Sabb are the only three Crimson Tide players who have showed up on the official SEC availability report this week as Alabama prepares to face Oklahoma on Saturday night. However, the Sooners have a long list of players on the report
Follow along for injury updates throughout Saturday’s game between the Crimson Tide and Sooners.
In-game injury updates
First Quarter
- 11:30- Overton is back on the field for Alabama’s second defensive series.
- 14:30- Alabama defensive tackle LT Overton goes down on the first drive of the game. He is brielfy looked at by medical staff, but is able to walk off the field on his own. However, he headed straight for the injury tent.
Pregame
Alabama Final Availability Report
- Keon Sabb, DB – Out
- Cole Adams, WR – Out
- Que Robinson, LB – Out
Oklahoma Final Availability Report
- Jayden Gibson, WR – Out
- Jalil Farooq, WR- Out
- Nic Anderson, WR – Out
- Andrel Anthony, WR – Out
- Gentry Williams, DB – Out
- Kendel Dolby, DB – Out
- Geirean Hatchett, OL – Out
- Jacob Sexton, OL – Out
- Jake Taylor, OL – Out
- Deion Burks, WR – Out
- Jovantae Barnes, RB – Game-time decision
- Joshua Bates, OL – Out
Read more: What Happened to the Players who Transferred From Alabama Last Year?
Why One Alabama Assistant Has Been Losing Sleep this Week
Where Alabama Football Ranks in the College Football Playoff Poll
Alabama
Oklahoma-Alabama GameDay Preview: Under the Radar
These can feel like grasping at straws sometimes, but in this case, I really think Jacob Jordan can be the difference for the OU passing game. Deion Burks probably isn’t going to play. Jalil Farooq has already been downgraded to questionable after he gave it a try two weeks ago at Mizzou. The return of those two players — for better or worse — did almost nothing for the offense in Columbia. Meanwhile, as the coaching staff inserted their stars back into the lineup, it came at the expense of Jordan, the true freshman walk-on who had blossomed in a three-week stretch, catching six passes for 86 yards against South Carolina, six for 38 and a touchdown at Ole Miss and three for 36 against Maine. At Mizzou? Jordan got to play one snap and was relegated to the end of the bench. OU defenders say he’s a frustrating player to cover because he runs such precise routes and catches almost everything. Also, when Jackson Arnold was benched and running the scout team, he developed some chemistry with Jordan. The Sooner staff would be wise to utilize him against the Crimson Tide.
— John E. Hoover
Alright, a Butkus Award semifinalist and the heartbeat of Oklahoma’s football team is probably too high-profile to qualify as “under the radar,” but it’s Senior Night and I’m going to bend the rules. Stutsman was everywhere against Missouri, totaling 19 tackles and preventing the Tigers from having much of a rushing attack at all. He’s going to say all the right things, but Stutsman’s final game on Owen Field means a great deal to him and his family, and I expect we’ll see another fantastic outing from the talismanic linebacker. And Oklahoma will need it. Jalen Milroe’s ability on the ground makes Alabama’s entire offensive operation go. The teams that have had success bottling him up, Vanderbilt and Tennessee, were able to upend the Crimson Tide. Any path to a shock OU victory runs through a night to remember for Stutsman — something he’s completely capable of on Saturday.
— Ryan Chapman
Even though Saturday marks Senior Day in Norman, the Sooners will be leaning heavily on a true freshman against the Crimson Tide. Coming off a career-high 56 yards on nine carries against Missouri, running back Xavier Robinson said he’s burning his redshirt seems to be in line for an increased share of the team’s carries this week when Alabama comes to town. If the Oklahoma City product has another strong performance, it could be enough to spark Oklahoma’s offense and keep the Sooners in contention against a formidable opponent who has been able to light up the scoreboard this season.
— Randall Sweet
The Sooners will need explosive plays to have a chance to take down Alabama. With receiver Deion Burks injured and sidelined again, the speedy Brenen Thompson might be OU’s best chance at a big play. Thompson has reached the end zone twice this season, and the last time was a 54-yard touchdown connection with Jackson Arnold, proving what Thompson is capable of if he and Arnold get the time they need. Alabama might also overlook the 5-foot-9 receiver and focus on a bigger threat like Jalil Farooq, possibly freeing Thompson, if even for one big play.
— Dekota Gregory
Oklahoma’s wide receiver room has been a hot topic of conversation all season long. The Sooners have been banged up and the passing game has been extremely quiet. Whether it’s the quarterback spot, the offensive line, or the short handed receiver group, it’s been an all-around failure. Jalil Farooq has been injured for most of the season, but returned to the lineup against Missouri two weeks ago. He was expected to have a breakout campaign, but injuries have hampered his time on the field. Farooq looked rusty in his first week back, and it looked like he might not fully trust his foot yet. With a bye week in the past, this is the time for Farooq to make a difference, though. Oklahoma will desperately need him with no other starting receivers healthy, and could force feed him early and often.
— Ross Lovelace
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