TUSCALOOSA (Ala.) - Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. knows how to start fast.
According to Dr. Matt Rhea (crimson Tide's director for sports science), Anderson ran in practice at 20 mph while using GPS. Anderson, who runs at 10.7 mph, is the fastest player on team, going from a standstill up to five yards. Anderson is almost as fast as Jaylen Waddle (ex-crimson Tide receiver) at 10.7 mph at five yard last year.
Anderson is 6'4" tall and 245 pounds heavier than Waddle (6'4"). The Miami Dolphins selected Anderson as the No. 6 pick in this spring's NFL Draft.
Rhea stated that Waddle was the fastest five-yard sprinter she had ever seen. "But, at 245 lbs, it's amazing how fast [Anderson] starts."
Let the excitement begin College football kicks off Week 1, with many marquee matchups. ESPN and ABC have you covered throughout the weekend. There are many other games available on ESPN+, the SEC Network and ACC Network as well as ESPN streaming.
All games are also available on ESPN App. All times Eastern Thursday, September 2.
Boise State at UCF 7 p.m. ESPN Friday, September 3
No. No.
Michigan State at Northwestern, 9:05 p.m. ESPN Saturday, September 4
Tulane at No. 2 Oklahoma, noon, ABC
Western Michigan at Michigan, noon ESPN
No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 14 Miami, 3:30 PM, ABC
West Virginia at Maryland, 3:00 p.m. ESPN
Texas Tech at Houston, 7:05 p.m. ESPN
No. 5 Georgia vs. 3 Clemson at 7 p.m. ABC
BYU vs. Arizona at 10:30 p.m. ESPN Sunday, September 5
No. 9 Notre Dame at Fla. St., 7:30 p.m., ABC Monday, Sept. 6
Louisville vs. Ole Miss, 8 p.m., ESPN Full Week 1 schedule
Imagine Anderson's frustration when he couldn't catch up to Mac Jones in Alabama's first practice in 2020.
The Crimson Tide's twin peaks, right tackle Evan Neal (6-foot-7 and 350 pounds), and left tackle Alex Leatherwood (a first-round draft pick of the Las Vegas Raiders) were clearly in his way.
Anderson stated, "It humbled and taught me a lot." It kept my head straight."
And most likely on a swivel, too.
Alabama players face potential NFL draft picks every day in practice. This is one of the many blessings of playing for a program like Alabama.
Neal stated, "We probably won't see many guys in games who are better than what you see in practice every single day."
This is likely to be the case with the No. 1 Crimson Tide against No. 14 Miami in Chick-fil A Kickoff Game (ABC at 3:30 p.m. ET) at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta.
The Crimson Tide has had 106 players chosen in the 13 NFL drafts. This is more than any FBS program. Alabama had at least nine players selected in each of the five previous drafts, with 10 this April.
Nick Saban, Tide coach, said that he tells players that if they tell you you can't play there, it is insulting. "If they tell players that they can play at their place before they can at ours, they are telling you they are better than you. Ask our players. They're playing against great players. It makes them better.
Alabama's 2014-2016 practices are a perfect example of this. In those days, left tackle Cam Robinson faced off against Jonathan Allen every day. Robinson won the Outland Trophy for the nation's best interior lineman and Allen was awarded the Ted Hendricks Award, Chuck Bednarik Award, and Bronko Nagurski Trophy for the top defensive player/defensive end in the country.
Saban stated that "[Cornerback] Marlon Huffrey covered Amari Cooper every single day for three years." "[Cornerback] Patrick Surtain practiced four first-rounders every day for three year. It makes you more.
Anderson, who was a freshman at linebacker in the 2020 opener, has proven that this is the case. Anderson had zero sacks during the first seven games. However, his performance improved significantly in the final six and helped the Crimson Tide win the third consecutive national championship. Anderson finished third in the SEC, with 7.5 sacks, 10.5 tackles to loss, 52 tackles, and eight quarterback pressures.
Will Anderson Jr., a linebacker, is 6-4 and 245 pounds. Kevin Jairaj/USA Today Sports
Anderson stated, "Being so young and going up against grown men such as Evan made me so much happier." Every day, I'm up against a draft pick in the first round. You have no other choice than to improve. He's strong and agile, can move and bend, everything you want in an offensive tackle.
Neal, a junior hailing from Okeechobee in Florida, is an athletic offensive lineman who has played for Alabama. After gaining 385 pounds, he arrived in Alabama from IMG Academy and has lost about 30. In 2019, he played 13 games as left guard and in 2020, he will play 13 at right tackle. He had only three penalties and six missed assignments last season, which allowed 1.5 sacks in 810 snaps. Neal will be playing left tackle after Leatherwood leaves for the NFL.
Neal, despite his massive stature, routinely completes 48 inch box jumps. He also won the internet with a video of a split-leg box jump. According to Rhea, he bench-presses 475 lbs, squats 675 lbs, and was measured at 18.5 mph using GPS.
Anderson stated, "Offensive linesmen aren’t supposed to jump that way."
Neal attributes his remarkable athleticism to "God" and "genetics." From 1981 to 1984, his father Eddie Neal was a Tulane linebacker. His uncle, Cleveland Gary was a star running back for Miami and a first round pick of the Los Angeles Rams. Jimmie Jones was another uncle who played defensive tackle with the Hurricanes between 1985 and '89. He was also a two-time Super Bowl Champion with the Dallas Cowboys.
Saban believes there is still room for improvement, even though Neal was a great player in his first two seasons.
Saban stated, "He's great." I said to him, "But, Saban, he's good." Your ass should not be on the ground, no matter how good you may be as an athlete and no matter how powerful or big you might be. That's the question that NFL personnel are asking: Why are your feet so low to the ground? He's a great player."
What is the hardest part about facing Neal every day in practice?
Anderson stated, "He's big and he can move." His body takes up so many spaces. His body can sometimes be so large that even if I try to get the ball off as fast as possible, he is already at [engagement] point.
Anderson is a fast player and one of the Tide’s most powerful players. According to school data, Anderson can squat 570 pounds and power-cleans for 365. Rhea stated that Anderson's lower body power is among the top 1% of all current and former Tide players in their database.
Saban stated, "He has a lot of talent. He's hardworking, conscientious and competitive. He has a great character and is easy to coach. They should all be like him. He is very special."
It doesn't matter what Anderson or Neal face against Miami; it will likely not be as difficult as the challenges they experience in practice.
Anderson stated, "I beat him occasionally, he beats us sometimes," "We both get in good work every day. It is hard. It's a constant battle. Both of us know that it only makes us better."
