Alabama vs. Notre Dame: 3 players to watch in Rose Bowl semifinal

3. Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama

One of the prizes of Alabama’s 2020 recruiting class was the hyper-athletic edge rusher Will Anderson out of Hampton, Georgia. Anderson made an impression the moment he stepped onto campus, and entered the season with a ton of buzz.

Anderson was thrust into the starting lineup immediately in Nick Saban’s defense. The true freshman showed flashes early on, but struggled to finish plays and avoid over-running them. The talented youngster didn’t record a sack in the team’s first seven games.

And then everything started to click. Over the last four games of the season he terrorized opposing quarterbacks, practically living in the backfield. He recorded seven sacks over those final four games, ultimately finishing atop the SEC. He’s had two sacks in each of the last three games, and he came up with a key strip-sack of Florida’s Kyle Trask in the fourth quarter of the SEC Championship to help the Crimson Tide preserve the narrow victory.

Anderson is unquestionably the Tide’s most talented pass rusher, and he’ll have to be up to the task against a strong Notre Dame offensive line. Pete Golding will move Anderson around to try to get him in favorable matchups to make plays in the backfield, and if he can get home it will make life tough for Ian Book.

Setting the edge will also likely be key in this one with the Irish boasting a potent ground game. Young edge rushers often struggle to do so, but Anderson has made a number of plays in the backfield, but consistency will be key.