It turns out the Terminator can shed a few tears.

Alabama’s Will Anderson rightfully earned the nickname of the emotionless robot for his destructive play on the field, but it was never fitting of his off-field personality.

Days before he will almost certainly declare for the 2023 NFL draft, the Tide’s star pass rusher sat down for 25 minutes of wide-ranging story-telling with reporters that had the feeling of a farewell debriefing ahead of Saturday’s Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

Anderson, one of the most affable players to come through Tuscaloosa during Nick Saban’s tenure, revealed that he cried after both of Alabama’s losses this season.

“I cried after both, but I cried harder after the LSU game,” he said Thursday. “That was one of the games where we were so close. We just didn’t see us losing another game the rest of the year after everything had happened.

“It just hurts a little differently than any other game that we’ve played. I think it’s because it was our second loss. I just thought our whole week of preparation was good. The guys were on it. Everyone was locked in. We didn’t have any trouble that week.”

Anderson and teammate Bryce Young, both dejected, spoke softly to reporters in a small room after the 32-31 loss in Baton Rouge as LSU fans — having stormed the field and into the locker-room tunnel — could be heard chanting on the other side of door under Tiger Stadium.

Almost two months later, Anderson offered more detail about the emotion the 6-foot-4, 243-pound linebacker showed.

“It was in front of the team,” Anderson said of his tears. “People know that we’re so passionate about the sport that you love. They’re gonna be there for you. All my teammates, they were there for me. Bryce coming over and saying, ‘We got your back,’ and everything like that.

“Just because — we just know how much hard work that we put in, and we’re just like, what else could you possibly do in that moment? It all comes as part of the game — blood, sweat, tears, everything with your brothers. That’s what people say all the time. Moments like that, that’s when it showed.”

Stories about Anderson crying are not entirely new, from life growing up with five sisters to his time in Dutchtown High School’s weight room in Georgia.

But after winning a national championship as a freshman at Alabama, the likely final two seasons of Anderson’s time with the Tide did not end with a championship ring. Alabama taking its second loss to LSU effectively sealed the fate of a season for a player who certainly knew he was headed for the NFL.

“The Tennessee game — I’m gonna be honest with you, the Tennessee game hurt,” he said Thursday. “But I think the LSU game, it hurt everybody a little bit more. I think for me, like, that’s one of the games where I cried my eyes out.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about it, just how close we were. People don’t see how much hard work this team puts in Monday through Friday, and it eats us alive that we didn’t make our goals.”

One of Saban’s favorite players will suit up for what is expected to be the final time Saturday. Will it be Saban’s turn to cry afterward?

“He’s gonna make me cry if he do,” Anderson said.

Mike Rodak is an Alabama beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mikerodak.