There isn’t a more terrifying player in college football than Alabama linebacker Will Anderson. The Hampton, Ga. native was a devastating force for the Crimson Tide defense in 2021 — leading the country in sacks with 17.5 and tackles for loss with 34.5.

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He claimed SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors and won the Nagurski Award, presented annually to the nation’s best defensive player last season.

Anderson spoke recently with On3Sports about the mentality he plays with.

“Going out there and getting to strike somebody – there’s nothing like it,” Anderson said. “You’re going out there and get to strike somebody’s son, and embarrass him, and I think that’s one of the best things that gets me going. Somebody had the audacity to line up in front of you? No, I’m going to make you regret lining up in front of me. … I like to go hit people. I like to make people feel pain. It’s fun. You’re going out there and you get to abuse somebody, and it’s fun. And you don’t go to jail for it," said Anderson.

Anderson has given opposing offenses plenty of reasons to fear him over the last two seasons. He has accumulated 24.5 sacks and 45 tackles for loss in 28 career games at Alabama.

You won’t find a draft board that doesn’t have the Alabama pass rusher sitting at the top of it. Anderson was projected as the No. 1 overall pick in a recent 2023 NFL Mock Draft by  ESPN.

“Anderson is the unquestioned top player on my Big Board for next season,” said ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller. “At 6-foot-4, 243 pounds, he has shades of Von Miller to his game. He’s not supersized like Joey or Nick Bosa or Chase Young in terms of frame, but his quickness and power getting to the quarterback netted 17.5 sacks and 101 tackles..”

Anderson is paired with the uber-talented Dallas Turner as part of a frightening pass-rushing duo for the Crimson Tide.

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