Will Anderson Jr., aka the Terminator, won't be back.

The Alabama football edge defender announced Monday he will declare early for the 2023 NFL Draft. He has a chance to be the No. 1 overall pick. ESPN's Mel Kiper had Anderson as the No. 2 prospect on his 2023 big board published in late December.

"One of the best edge rushers I've scouted in the past decade," Kiper wrote about Anderson in November.

Anderson, a junior, has played three seasons for Alabama and will leave as one of the best pass rushers in program history while also graduating in three years. He became the first two-time unanimous All-American in the history of Alabama's program. Anderson is also the first defender to be a back-to-back unanimous All-American since Tennessee's Eric Berry in 2007-08.

"I had talked to Coach Saban, and he was very honest with me," Anderson said of his decision. "He was just telling me 'these past three years have been very special for us. You've been doing a really good job. You're a top pick. Go out there.' He said I don't need to come back. I talked to my family of course and we just made that decision trying to move onto the next chapter of my life and begin something new."

With 34.5 career sacks over three seasons prior to the Sugar Bowl, Anderson finishes his college career second only to Derrick Thomas (52) in most career sacks for an Alabama player.

Anderson, the 6-foot-4, 243-pound linebacker from Hampton, Georgia, is also third behind two Thomas seasons (1987-88) for the most sacks in one season. Anderson had 17.5 in 2021 as he won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, given to the best defensive player in college football. The defender also earned recognition as a unanimous All-American in 2021. It was a season worthy of the Heisman Trophy, and he might have won if not for the award having become a mostly offensive award.

"These past three years have been unbelievable, great and very special" Anderson said. "I'm very blessed to be in this situation."

In one of his best single performances for the Crimson Tide, Anderson had four sacks against Mississippi State in 2021. That's tied for second-most in one game for an Alabama player.

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As productive as Anderson was getting after the passer, he also proved to be a stout run defender for the Crimson Tide. He had 34.5 tackles for loss in 2021, a number only surpassed by Thomas, who had 39 in 1988.

This season, Anderson added to his accomplishments when he picked off a pass and returned it for a touchdown against Louisiana Monroe in September. He hasn't been as productive from a numbers standpoint in 2022, but he has still been Alabama's best defensive player.

Anderson has been a contributor since his freshman year when he helped the Crimson Tide go undefeated and win a College Football Playoff championship in 2020. That year, Anderson tallied 52 tackles, seven sacks and forced a fumble.

Those efforts earned Anderson some of his first collegiate accolades as he was named the Football Writers Association of America's Freshman of the Year. Anderson also earned a spot on the All-SEC second team.

Nick Kelly covers Alabama football and men's basketball for The Tuscaloosa News/USA TODAY Network. Reach him via email: nkelly@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @_NickKelly.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football's Will Anderson Jr. declares for 2023 NFL Draft