ATLANTA, Ga.– With much respect placed upon Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen and outside linebacker Tim Williams, people often forget that Ryan Anderson was a big-named recruit.
The Daphne, Ala., native assisted a defensive front that limited Washington to 44 yards rushing and 194 yards of offense. While it entered the Peach Bowl averaging 44.5 points a game, the Huskies mustered just one score against the Crimson Tide. Anderson was credited with three total tackles, but the senior linebacker emerged with a critical play in the first half. As Reuben Foster applied pressured to Huskies’ quarterback Jake Browning, Anderson read his eyes directly to the receiver in the flat. He then proceeds to break in front of the potential target, snatch the ball and rumble 26 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter.
Pick-6 Ryan Anderson #BamavsWash #espn pic.twitter.com/v3PGhKCkrE
— InsideBamaRecruiting (@RTRnews) December 31, 2016
Anderson not only accounted for one of three forced turnovers, but he also gave the Tide its 15 non-offensive score of the season. He now joins Alabama’s touchdown club and was awarded Defensive Player of the Game.
In breaking down a crucial defensive play, head coach Nick Saban credits the unselfishness of Anderson and Foster of working together to make a play.
“When the back was offset to an open end side, we wanted Reuben to rush the A-gap, and Ryan to take the back,” Saban said. “And, you know, he’s a great pass rusher, but that also help our protection. And at the back block, Reuben, we got an extra guy rushing. So they did a nice job in practice of executing that and they did a really good job.”
When it comes to choosing between Jonathan Allen’s 75-yard fumble return against Ole Miss or Anderson’s pick six versus Washington, wide receiver Cam Sims decided to go with the latter.
“I gotta give it to my man Ryan,” Sims said. “He think he’s a safety, so I gotta give it to him.”
As for offensive lineman Lester Cotton, he considers Allen as a role model.
“You never see him messing up and you never see him complain,” Cotton said. “If anyone should get credit for how good this defense is, Ryan should get the credit.”
Before he travels to Mobile (Ala.) for the Senior Bowl, Anderson has a chance to obtain a third national championship at Alabama. After securing a 24-7 win over Washington in the final game the Tide will play at the Georgia Dome, Anderson and company will battle Clemson in a rematch for the 2017 College Football Playoff national title game.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
