WATCH: Trio of Alabama players speak Monday ahead of Iron Bowl
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 8 Alabama (9-2, 5-2 SEC) is back at home this Saturday taking on the Auburn Tigers for its final regular season game of 2022. After the Iron Bowl, we’ll have to wait and see who the Crimson Tide end up drawing for its bowl matchup.
On Monday, three Alabama standouts spoke to the media. First, we talked to quarterback Bryce Young. Then, junior outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr. and senior defensive lineman DJ Dale followed him up. Below, we’ve included everything those guys said during Monday’s media availability.
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QB Bryce Young
On last year’s Iron Bowl struggles, improvements he’s seen from OL as far as protection…
“I think we’ve definitely grown a lot as a unit, as a group. Last year…it’s always going to be tough in the Iron Bowl. We have a tremendous amount of respect for them as a program and we know it’s going to take everything. It was a tough game, came down to the wire. It’s the Iron Bowl. There have been countless of those. We understand a rivalry game things like that happen. There are things we’ve look at on film, obviously, we want to improve on, things we take steps to improve on. But we’re going to be ready. We know it takes work.”
On if he’s back to playing at full strength…
“Yeah. I’m good. We have an amazing training staff, coaching staff that manages everything, practice-wise, game-wise being on top of things. I owe a ton to the training room that did so much to get me back healthy and feeling good. I feel good, I’m blessed to be in the circumnstance where I am and I’m ready to keep pushing and I feel good now.”
On if he leans into the rivalry or does he just focus on the game…
“I definitely don’t ignore it. This is a huge, huge game, means a lot to us, means a lot to all the former players, all the alumni; it means a lot in the state. So it’s a big game for us and me individually. I understand and I don’t shy away from that; it’s a huge game, a big rivalry game; it means a lot. I understand that. But with that as well I understand my responsibility to do what I have to do during the game, before the game, to put myself in the best situation I can to put our team in the best situation, us in the best situation as a team, to be successful. So for me it’s just finding the head space to understand the gravity of the situation, the moment, to be centered, to be at my best to play and perform, so that’s where my head’s at before the game.”
On if this is his last game in an Alabama uniform…
“As far as me thinking about my future, I take everything one day at a time. So all I’ve been focused on throughout the year has been the next opponent, and obviously, this is huge. This is a huge game. This means a lot to me, to people in the entire state, to us as a team. This is a huge game, so all I think about is today. How can I be the best version of myself today to get ready to put myself in the best circumstances, how we as a team can do that, and that’s all my head’s focused on.”
On if Alabama’s Jase McClellan is a complete running back…
“Jase is someone who puts in a lot of work, understands offense really well, and someone who works so hard and is so dynamic, but can also play in all aspects of the game. Obviously an amazing runner who is very physical and someone who has done a lot for us running the ball, but also in the passing game, he’s great after the catch, running routes, and also in protection. Understanding what his job is, what the role is, what’s going on around him. That comes from his seeing how hard he works day in and day-out. Just being in the backfield with Jase, knowing he understands what all 11 guys are doing, understands his responsibilities. Really works hard and takes pride. Always good to have a teammate like that. To see how much he’s grown, how much he’s worked has been really cool.”
On if he’s given any thought to this being his last game at Bryant-Denny Stadium…
“Again, for me, I’ve just been focused on being one day at a time. I haven’t thought about anything in the future. All I care about now is this program. And again, for me individually, us as a team, today, it being Monday, my job is to do the best I can throughout the day to prepare myself and put myself and us as a team in the best circumstances. So that’s all I’ve thought about, all my head’s been on. Again, I understand how much this means to us as a team, everyone in the state. This is a huge game. I have to do everything I can to focus individually and us as a unit to put ourselves in the best circumstances to be successful on Saturday.”
On his favorite moment at Bryant-Denny Stadium…
“I don’t know. It’s been so many. It’s been so many moments, so much support from the stadium, from the fans. Honestly, I’d say probably the first game in Bryant-Denny last year. Obviously, I saw it was a recruit and 2020, Bryant-Denny obviously was different with it being COVID, it being 50 percent capacity or whatever it was. Still getting to feel that support, even with that, that meant a lot. But I think the first game, the (2021) year, just it being packed out and just really, for the first time as a player, being able to experience the fans, experience how much it means to everyone in the building and just experience that environment, it’s the best environment in college football. It really set the tone for the consistency. It’s been like that every time I’ve been back at Bryant-Denny. That’s what stands out, but it’s so many moments that I’m grateful for, it’d take me too long to go through them all.”
On Alabama WR Jermaine Burton…
“I think he’s just grown a lot being more comfortable in the offense. Again, this being his first year, him transferring here, he came in with a very professional mindset. Someone who works really hard, worked really hard to get the offense and understand everything. And you just see him getting more and more comfortable as each game goes on. Even as it is later in the season, you can still see him growing, him being more comfortable. And he’s really just someone who steps up in big moments, whether it be this past game or the game before that, in big-time moments, making important catches that are things that kept drives going or needed touchdowns, whatever it may be. Just him stepping up and the moment never being too big for him, him elevating his game in moments like that. Having someone like that, a dog out there that you know is gonna compete, I’m definitely happy to have him out there and to be able to throw to him. And I’m glad that people have been, I guess, more so noticing the success he’s had these last couple of games, and I’m excited to keep watching him grow.”
LB Will Anderson Jr.
On why he’s only wearing one sock…
“My foot was in the hot tub and I was having to run up here and hurry up and I didn’t have a chance to put on my other sock.”
On what he learned from last year’s Iron Bowl…
“Since I’ve been here as a freshman, even during the COVID season and everything, it’s like one of the biggest games. It’s one of the games that people … it means something. Coach Saban always says you’re remembered by what you do in this game. No fans will remember any other game you play in. They will remember the Auburn game. This means a lot to the people in this town and it should mean lot to you.”
On the challenges of how teams handle or gameplan against him…
“It’s been different. The blocking has been the same. The double team or triple teams. Mostly, sometimes, I’ve even noticed they don’t even run to my side sometimes but I just have to go out there with whatever play coach calls and just do my job the best of my ability and help my teammates out and help them do their job. So, it’s been good. It’s been fun. It’s been a great challenge and I’ve learned to embrace it instead of letting it frustrate me.”
On if that gets frustrating…
“Sometimes but it just opens doors for other guys on our defense to go in and make plays and help the defense do well.”
Of if the Iron Bowl is his last game in an Alabama uniform…
“You know, I haven’t made any decisions yet. I’ve just been real focused on this season and continuing to be a good leader and showing guys the right way of how to do things around here. It’s been a great time around here. Playing in Bryant-Denny has been fun, so many memories. I just want to keep those memories going so it’s been fun and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.”
On if this is his last game, would it be cool for it to be the Iron Bowl…
“You know I’m looking forward to it. I was just joking about it in the weight room. Me and Henry got a chance to sit down and just take a look at the whole stadium and we were just laughing about it because this is what you dream about as a kid, playing football in the backyard with your friends and you get moments like this. It’s just a dream come true. It’s been a blessing. I had a chance to meet a lot of great people and build a relationship with them and I hope it lasts forever.”
On the Iron Bowl…
“You know, this is like one of the biggest games in the country. It means a lot to a lot of people here. I know it means a lot to people in the facility and the players. But to play in another Iron Bowl, it’s going to be good. Auburn has a really good team, really good coaching staff and everything like that. It’s going to be a good challenge for us, but we’re ready to accept the challenge and go out and play to the Alabama standard.”
On Alabama DL Damon Payne‘s celebration and the turnoves from the defense…
“At first, I didn’t know what was going on. I was a little bit in shock. I didn’t know what he was doing down there. It looked like he was swimming backward. I don’t know what was going on, but it was funny. Just to see the excitement on the sideline, the excitement from the older guys, how proud they were of him, Byron Young and DJ Dale, how they got out there and cheered him. That’s what it’s all about, making sure those younger guys have the foundation to know like, ‘We got y’all’s back. We know how to have fun, too. And when we y’all make plays, we’re going to be right there with you.’
“I think that’s something that’s really big, turnovers. It helps the offense you know go down there and do what they need to do. We just got to create more turnovers and help the offense and get them on the field and stuff like that and take away the ball and possibly score on defense. It’s all fun, and we love to do it.”
On Alabama’s young players learning from last year’s Iron Bowl…
“Always be ready when your number’s being called. I think that’s one thing Coach has been trying to stress, and I think it’s one thing leadership has been trying to stress. You never know when somebody’s going to go down no matter if it’s a big game or a small game or anything. Just always be ready when your number gets called. But I think some of the freshmen are doing a pretty good job of doing that so far. I think they’re watching the older guys a little bit and taking notes of how to do things the right way. I’m super proud of these guys, and they’ve been doing a really good job.”
On his favorite Iron Bowl moment…
I know the one from last year … I would just say as a team, when Kool-Aid got that stop. He deflected the pass in the end zone. And then when Bryce went down and the offense went down and scored. I think those two moments were the biggest moments ever. That’s just as a team. I was so happy. I was like just so up. Bryce was one of the first people I hugged. Those moments right there are moments that you cherish forever because are the moments that you have with your brothers that you spent all offseason working hard with. Blood sweat and tears, and it’s hard and everything like that. Those are the moments you don’t take for granted.”
DL DJ Dale
Full transcript coming soon…
