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Alabama Football: Ryan Anderson, The Process Defined

By Bobby Martin

Dec 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Tim Williams (56) and linebacker Ryan Anderson (22) and linebacker Reuben Foster (10) in action during the game against the Michigan State Spartans in the 2015 CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Tim Williams (56) and linebacker Ryan Anderson (22) and linebacker Reuben Foster (10) in action during the game against the Michigan State Spartans in the 2015 CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Many people constantly ask what Nick Saban’s, “process” is. The answer is simple: Ryan Anderson is “The Process”. Buying in, understanding his role, and continue working to be the best football player he can be week after week. All of these attributes contributed to Ryan growing into a leader for the 2016 Alabama football team.

Ryan Anderson was recruited from Daphne High School by then Alabama football’s defensive back coach Jeremy Pruitt. Overshadowed by his teammate TJ Yeldon, Anderson was a great player in his own right, ranking as the 76th overall player in the 2012 24/7 Composite. To understand the competitive spirit of Ryan Anderson and what makes him tick, let’s revisit a moment that happened during a 7-on-7 tournament in the summer of 2011.

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A Competitive Spirit Is Born

After already losing twice, Anderson’s Daphne squad took on  all-everything quarterback Jameis Winston’s team. Late in the game Winston completed a 2-point conversion to the man Ryan was covering. Winston looked at the Daphne standout across the line of scrimmage on their next possession winking at him. Anderson responded to the wink by crushing a receiver on the play. Again, I remind you, it was a 7-on-7 flag football. After the play was over, Anderson and Winston had to be separated. Anderson’s high school coach, Glenn Vickery, said “It was almost a fight”

Learning His Role

After redshirting and sitting out the 2012 season, Anderson started his career as many do at Alabama: on the kickoff return team. Ryan saw action in all 13 games and finished the season with 5 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. Anderson knew he had to get better to see the field with a depth chart full of former four- and five-star players.

A third-year sophomore in 2013, Anderson would play in all 14 games in an expanded role.  A key contributor off the bench, Anderson improved his stat line to 35 tackles, eight tackles for loss, three sacks, nine quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery. Ryan also earned defensive player of the week honors from the Alabama football coaches twice.

Coming Out Party

Ryan Anderson’s coming out party would be his redshirt junior season. Still a role player, Anderson saw more playing time and logged career highs across the board for the Crimson Tide. His stat line would balloon to 37 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and nine quarterback hurries. The guy people once referred to as, “TJ Yeldon’s high school teammate” was beginning to make a name for himself.

Projected by most to be a middle-round draft pick, Anderson chose to return to the Crimson Tide. Since forgoing the draft Anderson has become a leader for the 2017 version of Alabama Football, but don’t tell him about his potential. In a preseason interview, he responded to a question about his potential by saying, “I don’t get into potential. I played with a lot of guys in high school that had potential. So I don’t get into all that. It’s about showing up to work every day and getting better.”

Senior Year: Finding His Niche

The 6-foot-2, 258-pound Anderson clocked a 4.78 40-yard dash during Alabama football’s spring testing. Anderson also recorded the second-highest bench press among linebackers at 450 pounds.

Anderson’s hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed.  An NFL scout is quoted as saying: “I’ve (been scouting) Alabama for quite a while and I never remember them having an end like Ryan Anderson. They have had some big, strong guys but he’s got anchor and twitch. I think he’s the safest bet on that defense right now.”

With 26 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks seven games into the 2016 campaign, it’s safe to say Ryan Anderson is a big reason Alabama football is sitting at 7-0. The Crimson Tide look to move to 8-0 next weekend as they welcome the Texas A&M Aggies to Tuscaloosa for a 2:30 kickoff on CBS. Follow BamaHammer this week for updates leading up to the game that will likely decide the SEC West. And as always, Roll Tide.

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