Alabama outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr. and quarterback Bryce Young, rated by ESPN’s Todd McShay as the top two prospects in the 2023 NFL draft, both plan to play in the Crimson Tide’s bowl game.
Coach Nick Saban told ESPN he doesn’t expect the Tide to have any opt-outs for the game.
Alabama faces Kansas State on Dec. 31 in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
The Tide (10-2) resumed practice Friday and both players were out there. Anderson and Young, both juniors, are expected to declare for the NFL draft. It’s extremely rare in today’s world of college football that a projected first-round pick who’s planning on entering the draft plays in his team’s bowl game.
Saban told reporters after practice Friday that Anderson and Young returning for the bowl game “sets a great example for guys who respect their teammates” and added that Alabama would insure the players “the best we possibly can” under NCAA rules.
“It’s kind of interesting that people opt out of playing for their team,” Saban said. “The way you create value for yourself is to play football. That is the best way you can create value for your future. When you do that against good competition, that creates value for your future.
“I hear guys say all the time, ‘I’m going to get ready for the NFL.’ Well, what do you mean? Getting ready for the Combine? All the things you do at the Combine aren’t even relevant to what you do on the football field. Every time you have an opportunity to compete, if you’re a great competitor and I think these two guys are great competitors, that’s why they wanted to play. They wanted to continue to create value for themselves and be good teammates and help their teammates play well in the game.
“That makes them a little old-fashioned in a lot of ways, but I respect that.”
Anderson won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy for the second straight season as the top defensive player in college football. The edge rusher also won the Rotary Lombardi Award as the top offensive or defensive lineman in the country.
Anderson is 10th nationally with 17 tackles for loss, including 10 sacks. He has 34.5 career sacks and 68 tackles for loss over 40 career games.
Young, who injured his throwing shoulder against Arkansas and didn’t play the next week against Texas A&M, has 3,007 passing yards, 27 touchdown passes and just 5 interceptions this season. His 83.7 Total QBR is eighth nationally. Young won the Heisman Trophy in 2021, becoming the first Alabama quarterback to get the award.