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Will Anderson Jr.

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Will Anderson Jr.
refer to caption
Anderson Jr. at the 2023 NFL Combine
No. 51 – Houston Texans
Position:Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (2001-09-02) September 2, 2001 (age 23)
Hampton, Georgia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:243 lb (110 kg)
Career information
High school:Dutchtown (Hampton)
College:Alabama (2020–2022)
NFL draft:2023 / round: 1 / pick: 3
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 6, 2024
Total tackles:72
Sacks:14.5
Pass deflections:2
Stats at Pro Football Reference

William Anderson Jr. (born September 2, 2001) is an American professional football defensive end for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he won several awards, such as the Bronko Nagurski Trophy twice, and was a part of Alabama's national championship in 2020.

Anderson was selected by the Texans third overall in the 2023 NFL draft, who traded up to get him after selecting Ohio State quarterback C. J. Stroud with the previous pick. He won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2023.

Early life

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Anderson was born on September 2, 2001, in Hampton, Georgia.[1] He attended Dutchtown High School, where he recorded 22 sacks with 15 tackles for loss as a senior in 2019. Anderson was named to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Super 11" team and played in the 2020 All-American Bowl.[2][3][4] Anderson committed to play college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide.[5][6]

College career

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Anderson was named a starter at outside linebacker as a freshman in 2020.[7][8][9] He was named second-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) after finishing with seven quarterback sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss as the Crimson Tide won the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship.[10] As a sophomore in 2021, Anderson won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and was voted a unanimous All-American after recording 17.5 sacks and 34.5 tackles for loss, both of which led the nation.[11][12][13][14][15] He finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting.[16]

On November 17, 2022, Anderson recorded a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown against Louisiana-Monroe.[17] In the 2022 season, Anderson had 51 total tackles (24 solo), ten sacks, and one interception in 13 games.[18] His ten sacks led the SEC for the 2022 season.[19] He won the Bronko Nagurski Award, Chuck Bednarik Award, Lott Impact Trophy, and the Lombardi Award,[20][21][22][23] in addition to being named a consensus All-American and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year.[13][24]

College statistics

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Season GP Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
Solo Ast Cmb TfL Sck Int Yds Avg TD PD FR Yds TD FF
2020 13 33 18 52 10.5 7.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 1
2021 15 58 45 101 31 17.5 0 0 0.0 0 3 0 0 0 0
2022 13 24 27 51 17 10.0 1 25 25.0 1 2 0 0 0 0
Career 41 115 90 204 58.5 34.5 1 25 25.0 1 5 0 0 0 1

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split
6 ft 3+1⁄2 in
(1.92 m) 		253 lb
(115 kg) 		33+7⁄8 in
(0.86 m) 		9+7⁄8 in
(0.25 m)		 4.60 s 1.61 s 2.64 s
All values from the NFL Combine[25][26]

Anderson was selected third overall by the Houston Texans in the 2023 NFL draft, in which, they traded with the Arizona Cardinals from the 12th overall pick that they acquired from the Cleveland Browns in the Deshaun Watson trade to move up to third overall.[27][28] On June 23, 2023, Anderson signed a four-year deal worth $35.2 million featuring a $22.6 million signing bonus.[29] In his NFL debut against the Ravens in Week 1, Anderson recorded one sack and six total tackles.[30] In Week 13, against the Broncos, he recorded his first multi-sack game with two.[31] As a rookie, he started in 13 games and appeared in 15. He finished with seven sacks, 45 total tackles (29 solo), and one pass defended.[32] He was named to the PFWA NFL All-Rookie Team.[33] He was named Defensive Rookie of the Year.[34]

Anderson was named to the 2023 Pro Bowl following an injury to American Football Conference starter Maxx Crosby.[35]

In his postseason debut, Anderson had a sack in the 45–14 victory over the Browns in the Wild Card Round.[36]

In Week 6 of the 2024 season, Anderson recorded three sacks, eight tackles and four tackles for loss in a 41-21 win over the New England Patriots, earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week.[37]

Personal life

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Anderson is a Christian.[38] Anderson is the son of Will Anderson Sr. and Tereon Anderson. He has five older sisters.[39]

NFL career statistics

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Regular season

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Year Team Games Tackles Fumbles Interceptions
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL FF FR Yds TD Int Yds TD PD
2023 HOU 15 13 45 29 16 7.0 10 — — — — — — — 1
2024 HOU 8 8 27 20 7 7.5 3 — 1 — — — — — 1
Career 23 21 72 49 23 14.5 13 — 1 — — — — — 2

References

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  1. ^ Alvarez, Nick (April 28, 2023). "Alabama's Will Anderson drafted No. 3 by Houston Texans in 2023 NFL Draft". AL.com. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  2. ^ "2019 AJC Super 11: Will Anderson, Dutchtown". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. August 19, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  3. ^ Potter, Charlie (September 23, 2020). "Will Anderson's ascent to starting role 'not surprising at all'". 247Sports. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  4. ^ Zenitz, Mark (February 6, 2020). "Why football people are so high on a new Alabama edge rusher". AL.com. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  5. ^ Rodak, Mike (December 18, 2019). "Four-star linebacker Will Anderson signs with Alabama". AL.com. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  6. ^ Simmons, Chad (June 17, 2019). "Breaking: Four-star DE Williams Anderson commits to Alabama". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  7. ^ Rodak, Mike (September 17, 2020). "Teammate: Alabama freshman Will Anderson has 'got it'". AL.com. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  8. ^ Hudson, Brett (September 27, 2020). "Alabama freshman linebacker Will Anderson Jr. performs well in debut". Dothan Eagle. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  9. ^ Suttles, Aaron (September 17, 2020). "Alabama mailbag: Is Will Anderson the elite edge rusher Bama has been missing?". The Athletic. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  10. ^ Rodak, Mike (August 24, 2021). "Is Will Anderson the elite edge rusher the Nick Saban era has been missing?". AL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  11. ^ "Bronko Nagurski Award Winners". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  12. ^ "SEC Defensive Player of the Year Winners". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  13. ^ a b "Consensus All-America Teams (2020–2022)". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  14. ^ Logan, Collier (April 24, 2022). "College Football's Best Player is Will Anderson, Jr., the Likely No. 1 Pick in the 2023 NFL Draft". SI.com. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  15. ^ Smith, Stephen M. (April 19, 2022). "Alabama LB Will Anderson earns comparison to NFL legend, Jason Taylor". TouchdownAlabama.com. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  16. ^ "2021 Heisman Trophy Voting". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  17. ^ "Louisiana-Monroe at Alabama Box Score, September 17, 2022". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  18. ^ "Will Anderson 2022 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  19. ^ "2022 Southeastern Conference Leaders". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  20. ^ Ubben, David (December 5, 2022). "Will Anderson wins Nagurski Trophy for second straight year". The Athletic. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  21. ^ "Ronnie Lott Trophy Winners". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  22. ^ "Vince Lombardi Award Winners". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  23. ^ "Chuck Bednarik Award Winners". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  24. ^ Rodak, Mike (December 7, 2022). "SEC coaches pick Will Anderson as defensive player of the year, again". AL.com. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  25. ^ "Will Anderson Jr. Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  26. ^ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Will Anderson Jr. College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  27. ^ "Texans select Alabama LB Will Anderson with the #3 pick of the 2023 NFL Draft". HoustonTexans.com. April 27, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  28. ^ "Houston Texans' No. 3 pick Will Anderson Jr. is a man among big female energy thanks to 5 sisters". ABC13 Houston. April 28, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  29. ^ Spurr, Aj (June 24, 2023). "Will Anderson Jr. contract details with Houston Texans revealed". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  30. ^ "Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens - September 10th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  31. ^ "Denver Broncos at Houston Texans - December 3rd, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  32. ^ "Will Anderson 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  33. ^ "2023 NFL All-Rookie Team". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  34. ^ "AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Winners". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  35. ^ Barefield, Brian (January 24, 2024). "Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. named to 2024 Pro Bowl". Texans Wire. USA Today. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  36. ^ "Wild Card - Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans - January 13th, 2024". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  37. ^ Gordon, Grant (October 16, 2024). "Ravens RB Derrick Henry, Buccaneers RB Sean Tucker highlight Players of the Week". NFL.com.
  38. ^ Mercer, Kevin. "Entering 2nd year, Texans defensive end Will Anderson seeks to rest in God's approval". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  39. ^ Dellenger, Ross (December 28, 2021). "The Secret to Will Anderson Jr.'s Quick Rise at Alabama? Family, and Anger". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
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