Ryan Anderson keeps the locker room light with his jokes
Ryan Anderson is one of those guys.
You know the kind I'm talking about. He's the guy that everyone likes because he's always quick with a joke. He keeps you laughing.
That's not all Anderson is, mind you, but it's that mostly unaccounted for trait that makes him one of the more popular players on the team.
Two years ago he was the teammate organizing cookouts at his house. This year he's the senior voice that keeps everyone loose.
"Ryan is a well-liked guy on the team," UA coach Nick Saban said. "I think a lot of people respect him as a player and I think he's got a great personality. I know he does a great job in terms of setting a good example in terms of leadership and work ethic and doing the right things on the field.
"I think he effects other people in a positive way. But I also think it's done in a way that everybody appreciates his sense of humor and his personality. I think those are all positive qualities for him to have."
He's a media favorite because he often says what he feels, doing so without giving the other team bulletin-board material. Asked earlier this week what he thought of teammate Jonathan Allen's fumble recovery touchdown run, Anderson didn't miss a beat.
"I was excited, but I was tired too, watching him run," Anderson said. "It took him so long to score. I’m going to get on him today man."
As long as Anderson keeps piling up sacks (he has 2.5 through three games), his teammates probably don't mind being the butt of the jokes every now and then.
“Ryan, sometimes when he talks to you he reminds you of your older uncles," senior defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson said. "He just sounds like he’s got an old soul and it’s just funny.”
Tony Brown update
Alabama has received word from the NCAA about junior defensive back Tony Brown's appeal of his six-game suspension, Saban said Wednesday evening.
"We do know. I'm not sure that we're allowed to announce it," Saban said. "I'm being honest with you. I'm not trying to keep anything from you. I was told not to announce it.
"Let me just put it this way: Everything has been done that needs to be done for him and Johnny Dwight both. So that's all I can say about it."
Damien Harris' evolution
Sophomore running back Damien Harris looks like a different running back than he did last season. That's something Saban appreciates.
Harris leads the team with 109 rushing yards per game, including a an eye-popping 9.1 yards per carry through three games. That production has been noticed by the head coach
"Well, it's kind of what we were hoping for in terms of the kind of ability that Damien had," Saban said. "I think that all freshmen have to go through development in a lot of ways. Personal, academic and athletic in terms of knowing what it takes to be sort of a productive player at this level relative to playing in high school. I think all players, all go through that. The unique guys can do it when they're freshmen. A lot of other guys, it takes a little time.
"Damien has always been a hard worker. I think he's been serious about it. I think after the little bit of experience he got last year and the success he's had this year, all the way back to the spring game, all those things helped him develop the confidence and maturity he needs to be kind of a bell cow guy for us at that position."
Reach Aaron Suttles at aaron@tidesports.com or at 205-722-0229.