Will Anderson responds to Heisman Trophy snub
Alabama linebacker Will Anderson is having a historic season for the Crimson Tide, leading the nation in sacks and willing Nick Saban’s defense into the College Football Playoff. But his focus remains centered on winning a national championship, not winning individual awards — that’s why he seemed unbothered by his unexpected snub from Heisman Trophy consideration.
On Monday, Anderson claimed a well-deserved honor in his sophomore season, winning the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, awarded annually to the nation’s best defensive player, over Georgia defensive lineman Jordan Davis and Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux. But many thought more awards were in store for Anderson, who is one of only two Power Five players in the last 20 years to tally 90-plus tackles, 20-plus tackles for loss and 12-plus sacks.
Better yet, the expectation was that Anderson would have at least a fighting chance to become the second defensive player ever to win the Heisman Trophy, joining Charles Woodson in 1997. But the Heisman Trophy Trust released its four finalists on Monday, and not only was Anderson left off its list, but Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson — who was not a finalist for the Bronklo Nagurski Trophy and has nearly 60 fewer tackles than Anderson — received a coveted invite to New York. Anderson didn’t seem to care; his only focus is “getting to a national championship.”
“It’s God’s plan. It’s not my plan. So I’m just following what God’s got for me. I’m just going to keep on rolling. We good,” Anderson said in Alabama’s press conference Tuesday, letting out a chuckle. “Bryce is there (in New York). We straight!”
Anderson had an ear-to-ear grin as he mentioned his teammate, quarterback Bryce Young, who on Monday was named a Heisman Trophy finalist. Young will be representing the Crimson Tide in New York, not Anderson, and the sophomore quarterback remains a heavy favorite to win college football’s biggest individual award. That doesn’t change the fact that Young believes Anderson deserved to be there with him.
“I definitely think he was deserving,” Young said Tuesday. “If you look at numbers, you look at production, I definitely think he deserves to be there. It’s unfortunate that he’s not going to be there.”
Perhaps Young has a point. Anderson has 91 tackles, while leading the nation in tackles for loss (32) and sacks (15.5). That stat line, compared to Hutchinson’s 55 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks, begs the question of whether Anderson actually deserved that spot.
Regardless, Anderson will remain in Tuscaloosa this weekend, where he’ll instead watch the ceremony on television. He’ll be rooting for Young, sure, but Anderson has bigger fish to fry. Like he said: his only goal is winning a national championship, and that starts with Alabama’s Dec. 31 Cotton Bowl matchup against Cincinnati.