Replacing Will Anderson isn’t going to be easy. One of college football’s best players is off to the NFL’s Houston Texans, and Alabama football needs an edge-rusher.

Fortunately, as is usually the case in Tuscaloosa, there’s talent waiting in the wings. This time around, the talent could be Chris Braswell, now entering his senior year with the Crimson Tide.

Sunday, Nick Saban praised Braswell and noted how much he could impact the 2023 UA season.

“Chris Braswell has made an impact when he’s had the opportunity to play,” Saban said. “Now he’s got the opportunity to be a full-time starter. He’s a mature player, he’s gotten bigger and stronger. He’s a good pass rusher. So, we expect him to do well this season and have a great year. We want to do everything we can to help him do that.”

Last season, Braswell played in all 13 games for the Crimson Tide. Even with Anderson and Dallas Turner entrenched in the two two edge rusher spots, Braswell found his playing time, occasionally in Pete Golding’s “Cheetah” package that pull all three of them on the field at once.

Braswell finished the year with 20 tackles, four of them for loss, with 2.5 sacks. He has the speed needed to succeed on the outside.

Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing in at 255 pounds, he has the size to do the job as well. This season he’ll have a new coordinator, with Kevin Steele replacing Golding, who left for Ole Miss in the offseason.

According to Steele, speaking Sunday to reporters, Braswell is set to make a big impact this season.

“Very talented,” Steele said. “Very talented. Smart football player, has the ability to rush the passer, to get on the quarterback. He’s really — when you look at him and watch him, you may not think about it — but he has a physicality about him.”

Braswell and his Crimson Tide teammates continue preseason camp through Aug. 26. Alabama opens the 2023 season on Sept. 2 against Middle Tennessee State at Bryant-Denny Stadium.