:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/33713905/20140419_mta_sg8_135.JPG.0.jpg)
Lost in the celebration of Alabama men's golf National Championship and the baseball & softball post-seasons was commitment number 17 to the Alabama football Class of 2015.
3-star Keaton Anderson of Florence, AL made his pledge on Thursday. At 6-1/215, this underrated outside linebacker/safety reminds many observers of Vinnie Sunseri. He has great instincts and always seems to be in the right position to make a play which is evident by the astounding 191 tackles he made for the Falcons in 2013. That is NOT a misprint: 191 tackles! He also collected two interceptions.
If you have been paying attention, Anderson fits the perfect mold of what Nick Saban and Kirby Smart are building on defense and that is a versatile safety/linebacker hybrid that can stay on the field and keep up with the HUNH and any incarnation. It is the beginning of the end for this offense du jour.
I am very humbled and blessed to say that I have officially committed to "THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA"! #ROLLTIDE pic.twitter.com/DEuE4bAw7d
— Keaton Anderson (@KAnderson5411) May 30, 2014
THE TENNESSEE CONNECTION
If you thought Saban getting the son of a former Auburn player who lived in Auburn, AL was a coup, this might just top that.
Despite living in Alabama, the Anderson family has deep roots in Knoxville. Anderson’s father Terry, uncle Charlie, and brother Carson all played football for the Vols. Additionally, the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ACEI) and the Anderson Training Center on the campus of the University of Tennessee are named for his family.
Kudos to the Anderson family for not pressuring him and letting him make up his own mind.
THE DECISION
Anderson was offered by the Tide over a year ago - his second offer after the Vols. He visited Tuscaloosa five times including 2014 Junior Day and 2014 A-Day.
"It felt like home. Roll Tide," Anderson told reporters.
Anderson chose Alabama over Tennessee, LSU, Miami, Clemson, and Duke. Did I mention Tennessee?