Will Anderson will get his $20. LB breaks down Alabama turnover pool – Alabama News Network

Alabama’s two-game turnover drought was a topic of discussion Saturday afternoon in the Crimson Tide locker room. The defense knew they were missing the momentum-changing plays synonymous with the unit in years past. So, before facing Louisiana-Monroe, they made it a little interesting.

“We was talking as a defense and said, ‘Everybody gotta put in $20, so whoever gets the first turnover,’” linebacker Will Anderson Jr. told the media on Monday.

Anderson won the pot four minutes into the 63-7 win. The senior actualized a goal he had for himself in the preseason, nabbing an interception that bounced off a running back’s chest. He “shocked” himself when he caught it, despite knowing the play the Warhawks were running.

The shocks “just kept coming” as Anderson realized he had a free lane to the endzone and scored the Tide’s first non-offensive touchdown of the 2022-23 season. Anderson called it a top-five moment in his three seasons in Tuscaloosa.

But a major question remains: How much did he win?

“We gotta see cause they playing right now,” Anderson joked. “They keep saying they trying to bring up this NIL stuff, saying ‘Will Anderson doesn’t need it.’ I told them that’s horse crap. So I’m gonna get my 20 out of everybody.”

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Anderson embraced name, image and likeness opportunities this past summer after spurning it as underclassmen. One of the benefits to being “The Terminator” included a new car: a 2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS valued at more than $120,000.

Anderson will likely have more attempts at forcing turnovers this season. The Tide host Vanderbilt for its Southeastern Conference opener at 6:30 p.m. this Saturday.

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at NAlvarez@al.com