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Why college football's top inside linebacker left Alabama for Arkansas

WHEN DREW SANDERS' name appeared in the transfer portal database on Jan. 11, an Arkansas staff member was quick to run it up the ladder to head coach Sam Pittman.

Pittman thought the name sounded familiar, but he had to ask: "Is that No. 20 from Alabama?"

A staff member told him it was, and that he was from Denton, Texas, which is only about an hour's flight from Fayetteville. Pittman could close his eyes and recall seeing Sanders in uniform. It's hard to forget a linebacker with his size and speed.