Two Recent Alabama Greats Set to Square Off for First Time in NFL

Bryce Young and Will Anderson Jr. will meet for first NFL matchup when the Carolina Panthers host the Houston Texans Sunday.

Bryce Young and Will Anderson Jr. wrote their names all over the Crimson Tide record books and added on to the extensive trophy case in Tuscaloosa from 2020-2022. They are two of the most respected and celebrated players in Alabama history.

And for the first time in their pro careers after being selected first and third overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Alabama legends will be facing off this Sunday when the Carolina Panthers host the Houston Texans. 

"Honestly it is really surreal just going over the scouting report and watching film," Young said during a Carolina press availability Wednesday. "I still get happy just seeing people that I know and am cool with and am friends with, and like watching them play when I’m watching film. Watching us in NFL uniforms is still surreal."

A reporter joked that she’d never seen the rookie quarterback smile this much in a press conference since arriving in Carolina. Young said he hadn’t thought much about the matchup ahead of time, but there are a lot of guys on the other sideline from Alabama that he’s close with, and it brought up positive emotions for the former Alabama star.

Outside of Young and Anderson, there will be a ton of former Crimson Tide players represented. DeMeco Ryans is the head coach of the Texans with wide receiver John Metchie and linebackers Henry To'oTo'o and Christian Harris on the roster. Center Bradley Bozeman and defensive lineman LaBryan Ray are also on the Panthers. 

(You can check out all the active Alabama players in the NFL in the BamaCentral database here.)

With Alabama being off this weekend, it gives the current Crimson Tide players more of an opportunity to catch this weekend's NFL games, especially the one between the Panthers and Texans. 

"I especially like when Coach Saban gives us Sundays off, but whether or not he does that, I still get tuned in," Alabama defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe said. "On Sundays when we’ve got stretch and stride and we’re recovering in the training room, they have all the games on. And just seeing a lot of former Bama players playing, it’s just something that you see where they came from, you played with them and just seeing that they’re on the big stage on Sundays playing. 

"I’m looking forward to watching them two playing this Sunday, too.”

Current linebacker Deontae Lawson said that every Sunday when he watches NFL games, he sees some sort of Alabama representation on the field. He plans on tuning in to watch Young and Anderson. 

Young became the first quarterback in program history to win the Heisman trophy. He threw for 8356 yards and 80 touchdowns in his Alabama career, leading the Crimson Tide to the 2021 SEC Championship. 

Anderson won the Lombardi award, Nagurski trophy, Bednarik award and Lott trophy last season. He finished his college career with 204 total tackles and 34.5 sacks. 

Both players were twice elected captains by their teammates in 2021 and 2022. 

The respect from those teammates is evident with players like Dallas Turner, who is putting up Anderson-like numbers for the Crimson Tide this season. 

"Having guys like Bryce and Will, very inspiring people, very big on the team– they led by example every day, came to work every day," Turner said. "So guys like that, being able to see them play against each other on Sundays, you’re not surprised at the outcome because of the work they put in and stuff like that. But it’s still a good feeling seeing guys like that living out their dreams.”

It's been of a bit of a rocky start to the season for Young as the Panthers sit at 0-6. He has started five of Carolina's first six games, missing Week 3 at Seattle with an injury. On the season, Young has thrown for 967 yards with 6 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. 

In his first year as head coach, Ryans and the Texans are 3-3. Anderson has played in all six games for Houston and has already cemented himself as a starter. He has 24 tackles and a sack so far this year. Even though Anderson is good friends with Young, he joked with a reporter that he isn't this week and wouldn't mind increasing that sack total against the Panthers. 

“That’s all that’s been going through my mind is I get a chance to hit Bryce Young,” Anderson told Aaron Wilson of KPRC in Houston. 

Young talked about how much Anderson shows up on the film during preparation just this week, just like he did in all those years of practice at Alabama. It will be a competitive game between the two players and two teams, and the reunion on the field after the game will be filled with Alabama greats. 

"We both want to win," Young said. "Both sides, we’re obviously going to be in the moment there. Looking back on it, it’s just going to be cool to share the field with a lot of people I’m close with.”

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