Lessons Learned: Dallas Turner Ready for Life After Will Anderson Jr.

Turner played alongside the Alabama legend for two seasons — now he’s ready to lead the next generation of quarterback nightmares.

Austin Hannon | Jul 28, 2023

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Alabama Crimson Tide

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In July 2022, Will Anderson Jr. represented the Alabama Crimson Tide at SEC Football Media Days.

In July 2023, it was Dallas Turner.

That’s just the first step in Turner’s journey of replacing Anderson. Let’s start with this — there really is no replacing Anderson. He has an argument for being the greatest defensive player in Alabama football history — a list that includes the great Derrick Thomas and many others.

There’s one thing for certain — opposing quarterbacks still aren’t safe. There is another hungry, physical, 6-foot-4, 240-pound monster coming at them every play.

“Will taught me a lot,” Turner said. “We taught each other a lot, I'll say that. But just seeing him grow, him seeing me grow, it's been very good. I took a lot of things from him. I feel like I wouldn't be who I am today without him. [...] He was a very important person in my transition from high school to college football.”

“He prepared me for this moment. He passed on everything he needed to pass on to me. [...] The path he paved — I’m just going to follow it.”

Many already know what Turner brings to the table. He was sensational as a freshman in 2021-22, picking up 8.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss on the way to a national championship appearance — where he sacked Stetson Bennett twice.

Expectations were high in 2022-23 — and Turner didn’t necessarily deliver. He saw his sack number cut in half at just four. Whether it was schemes, dropping him into coverage more often, bringing Chris Braswell on the field more — it just wasn’t the season Turner wanted.

He’s ready to change that in 2023-24.

“We just hope to lead by example every day,” Turner said. “We got new guys coming in. We just show the new guys how it is supposed to be at The University of Alabama, the type of football we play, the type of attitude we have day in and day out.”

Turner is already liking what he is seeing from his new defensive coordinator, Kevin Steele.

“Kevin Steele, he has more experience,” Turner said. “With Alabama, he understands the standard, he knows what we are supposed to be doing as a defense. Being under Coach Saban, just being there for a long time — he's been a defensive coordinator for a very long time, just been in the game for a very long time.”

Why is a kid from Fort Lauderdale named Dallas? You’ll have to ask his dad about it.

“You got to ask my dad that, honestly [smiling],” Turner said. “I asked my dad that question every day.”

Things have been difficult for Turner. After two seasons in Tuscaloosa, he’s still empty on national championships — something that’s very uncommon for an Alabama football player in this era of dominance. In fact, Nick Saban hasn’t gone three consecutive years without a title since taking over the program in 2007. To make it worse, Turner chose the Crimson Tide over Georgia, which has won each of the last two championships.

Many people in college football are ready to crown the Bulldogs the new standard in the sport — Turner is OK with that.

“I mean, everybody has the freedom of speech.”

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