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.”

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.”