Alabama outside linebacker Ryan Anderson had more to accomplish at the college level when he announced in January that he was returning for his senior year.
He made one of those goals known this week.
Anderson made one of the biggest plays of the Crimson Tide's young season last Saturday at Ole Miss, when he slammed into Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly early in the third quarter and caused a fumble that noseguard Da'Ron Payne scooped up for a 3-yard touchdown. Adam Griffith's ensuing extra point knotted the game at 24, and it completed the erasing of a three-touchdown deficit in Alabama's eventual 48-43 victory.
"I had missed him like two or three times, so that was a big relief for me," Anderson said this week in a news conference. "I want to sack every quarterback I play this year, and I had missed him like three times. It was good to finally take him down."
Sacking every quarterback he faces this year is an impossibility at this point given that Southern California and Western Kentucky used multiple quarterbacks, but the 6-foot-2, 253-pounder from the Mobile suburb of Daphne still has a chance on a game-by-game basis. Anderson had a sack in the 52-6 opening win over the Trojans and was credited with half a sack in the 38-10 triumph over the Hilltoppers.
In Anderson's last nine games dating back to last season, he has 11.5 tackles for loss, including 6.5 sacks.
"Ryan has been a very productive player for us the last two years," Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said. "He's a real leader on the team. When he came, he had to develop at the position and didn't have a lot of patience. He was anxious to play and sometimes got frustrated because of that, but he stuck with it and had a great attitude of perseverance.
"It has paid off for him in a big way, because he's been really, really productive the last two years."
And amusing along the way.
When asked about Payne capitalizing on his big hit on Kelly last weekend, Anderson said, "I was happy that we scored, but I wasn't happy that it was Da'Ron, because now I have to hear about it."
Anderson has really enjoyed reviewing Jonathan Allen's 75-yard interception return in the fourth quarter that gave Alabama its largest lead at 48-30. Footage of the score shows Crimson Tide defenders escorting Allen, but none of them looked back, which allowed Rebels receiver Quincy Adeboyejo to race from behind and tackle Allen, albeit just too late to prevent the score.
Outside linebacker Tim Williams, who like Anderson bypassed an early departure to the NFL, is shown veering off from the convoy and pumping his arms in celebration.
"Tim was punching at something in the air," Anderson said, smiling. "I don't know what he was doing."
Anderson had come out of the game the play before Allen's score, which has allowed him to freely critique the play this week.
"Ryan is a well-liked guy on the team, and a lot of people respect him as a player," Saban said. "He's got a great personality, and I know he does a good job in terms of setting the example with his leadership and work ethic."
Through three games this season, Anderson has 10 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss to go along with his 2.5 sacks and the key forced fumble. He believes the 24-3 deficit Alabama faced last week marked "the perfect time to define ourselves," and he insists the Tide will not let up.
Alabama is a 44-point favorite Saturday against Kent State.
"There is no downshift," Anderson said. "We're preparing this week like we're preparing for the national championship. You can't just downshift and then pick it back up."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.