SEC game is final Heisman stage for two defensive stars
Will Anderson and Jordan Davis may be key
ATHENS, Ga. – Two defensive players mentioned as worthy of an invite to New York for the Heisman Trophy will be on display in the CBS nationally televised Southeastern Conference championship game Saturday.
With no slam-dunk front-runners for quarterbacks or receivers this year, Georgia nose guard Jordan Davis and Alabama linebacker Will Anderson can leave a final impression on voters whose ballots are due on Monday.
It’s a mutual admiration society between Davis and Anderson.
“He’s a great player,” Davis said. “He’s a game wrecker, watching his film and just seeing him. He’s explosive. He’s definitely one of those guys you have to make sure to keep contained.”
Anderson returned the favor. “He’s a great player,” he said of Davis. “He’s big. I think he’s like the unit of their defense honestly. He’s pretty hard to move around. Just watching him, I feel like he’s a really great athlete for that size and he’s a really good player.
Bryce Young, the Alabama quarterback, may be the top offensive candidate, but the Tide didn’t score a touchdown until the final minute in regulation last week at Auburn. Young led them on a 97-yard scoring drive.
Anderson has the statistics that jump out.
He’s third on Alabama’s single season sack list with 141⁄2 and second in tackles for loss with 301⁄2. Both lead the nation this season.
“He’s so explosive, twitchy, and tough,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “So he strikes people and really strikes blocks really well. It will be a key part of the game in terms of the way he plays and affects the game.”
The 6-foot-4, 243-pound Anderson was a five-star prospect out of Dutchtown High. He grew up a Georgia fan, but he said the home state school didn’t give him too much attention.
“I’m here at Alabama, and I love it here,” he said. “It’s been great so far.”
The 6-foot-6, 350-pound Davis has modest numbers statistically – 24 tackles, 31⁄2 for loss and 2 sacks and that one big-man touchdown run – but he’s a run-stopper and the anchor of probably the best defensive line in the nation on a unit that is allowing just 6.9 points per game.
“I think the guy is one of the most dominant players in college football,” Tide coach Nick Saban said. “Any defensive lineman, I guess you can look at a lot of things, but the number one thing is how hard are they to block? And he’s really hard to block. He’s got great size. He’s very powerful, but he’s got really good initial quickness, short area quickness, and can push the pocket and pass rush. He’s about as good a player as I’ve seen for a long time as an inside player on any college team.”