Will Anderson thanks teammates for specific Alabama award win

Awards season is in full swing for the Alabama football team. While quarterback Bryce Young has put together an impressive trophy case by being named the Associated Press Player of the Year, SEC Offensive Player of the Year, the Crimson Tide’s team Most Valuable Player and – most impressively – the Heisman Trophy winner, linebacker Will Anderson has also received some high recognition.

As Young was named Alabama’s MVP by his teammates, Anderson was chosen as the Crimson Tide’s Most Inspiring Player by the team. He met with the media earlier this week and shared what it meant to him to receive that honor.

“I think it means a lot,” Anderson said. “I have to stand here and say that I am that person because of my teammates. Just allowing them to trust me and just seeing how I work everyday and everything like that … I give all the credit to them because they push and help me be better everyday, as well as my coaches and my parents. So, just for them to acknowledge that means a lot to me.”

Anderson – a 6-foot-4, 243-pound defensive force – has racked up 92 total tackles this season to go along with 32.5 tackles-for-loss and 15.5 sacks. The Hampton, Georgia native was mentioned as a Heisman Trophy candidate during the regular season but wasn’t selected as a finalist.

Bryce Young explains why he made decision to commit to Alabama

Bryce Young has been nothing but successful ever since he stepped foot on Alabama’s campus. Although he was just a backup quarterback to Mac Jones last season, Young was still a part of a national championship team, and that success led him to creating much of his own in 2021.

During an interview on The Paul Finebaum Show earlier this week, Finebaum asked Young what led him to commit to Alabama – a school very far away from his hometown of Pasadena, California.

“It was the challenge of it, to be honest with you,” Young said. “Obviously, knowing the culture, knowing that there was a standard and expectation to live up to – that was something that was really challenging for me, and I knew it was going to push me to be the best me that I could be. Being around the best coaching staff in the country, playing the best schedule in the country, being able to have opportunities to play in big games and to push myself on and off the field.

“It was really what attracted me, and I when I was making my decision I didn’t want to limit it by proximity or whatever coach I knew the longest. … I wanted to find what would make me the best player and best person. It was definitely the best decision I could’ve possibly made.”