An old friend is set to become one of JC Latham’s toughest tests as a Titan
The rookie tackle has plenty of experience against one of the best defenders in the AFC South.
NASHVILLE — 2024 first-round pick JC Latham knows that he will face the best of the best going from Alabama to the NFL with the Tennessee Titans. One star defender Latham will face twice a year in AFC South play is an old friend and teammate whose game Latham is intimately familiar with.
Will Anderson Jr. of the Houston Texans is a player the young offensive tackle says he can't wait to compete against again.
"That was insane," Latham says of his practice battles with Anderson Jr. during their time together with the Crimson Tide. "I love going against him. I remember when he had a night practice and he's great at bull rush. He did want to expand his pass rush moves and I remember we had numerous periods of 5-on-4 and 9-on-9 where it's just one o-lineman against one d-lineman. One-on-one pass rush, team pass. All that stuff."
Houston selected Anderson Jr. out of Alabama with the third overall choice in 2023 to join then-first year coach DeMeco Ryans' defense.
Anderson Jr. flourished immediately on a unit that lacked top-end talent. The edge rusher started in 13 of the 15 games he played in as a rookie, notching 45 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, 22 quarterback hits with one pass defensed. Anderson Jr.'s production was good enough for him to be named the PFWA and AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2023) in addition to being named to the 2023 Pro Bowl.
Not too shabby.
Latham and Anderson Jr. were on the Alabama roster together for two seasons in 2021-2022. Anderson Jr. was a part of legendary Tide coach Nick Saban's final National Championship team in 2020. As a part of Saban's final team, Latham started all 13 games at right tackle, credited with 41 knockdown blocks across 813 snaps of his junior campaign for an average of 3.2 per contest and allowed just two sacks in 408 pass sets.
Saban retired from coaching college football earlier this year.
"When Will (Anderson Jr.) bull-rushes, he keeps his hands extremely tight to his chest so you can't see his numbers," Latham said on Friday. "He's dang near spearing you when he bull-rushes. I remember it caught me off guard and thinking 'OK, he's bringing it. He's bringing the juice.'"
Latham will not be surprised when next the two meet as former teammates turned divisional rivals in the AFC South.
Titans draft Alabama OT JC Latham in gamble at No. 7 overall
Tennessee added a right tackle in the first round that they play to play at left.
Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.
