Brian Branch and Will Anderson wanted the Tide to be on kickoff to start Alabama football games. Why? The Crimson Tide duo want to set the tone.

But it goes deeper than that. Branch, who was selected 45th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, talked with Connor O’Gara on the SDS Podcast Thursday to discuss his time at Alabama. He also had a few words to say about Anderson’s Thursday team meetings before Saturdays in the fall.

Branch insisted Anderson would offer $1,000 to the first player to “smack” the kickoff returner at these meetings. “That got everybody fired up, that’s the type of player he is,” Branch insists.

Check it out for yourself below:

Anderson, of course, was drafted 3rd overall by the Houston Texans in the recent 2023 draft. The Texans traded up with the Arizona Cardinals to make the selection.

Was it a worthwhile one? You tell us. Anderson finished his college career with 204 total tackles, 58 tackles for loss and 34.5 sacks. On top of that, he returned an interception for a touchdown, batted down 4 balls and forced 1 fumble across his 3 years in Tuscaloosa.

And his fierce competitiveness seems to speak for itself, right?