Will Anderson Jr. wins AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. won the Associated Press NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year on Thursday night. The former Alabama All-American received the award at the 13th annual NFL Honors ceremony in Las Vegas, Nev., ahead of Super Bowl LVIII.
“First, I’ve just got to give all the glory to God, man. Without Him, none of this is possible, man. He deserves all the honor and praise,” Anderson said. “Second, I’ve just got to give a shoutout to my beautiful family – my mom, my dad, my five sisters, my grandparents, aunties, cousins. Thank y’all so much for caring for me, loving me, supporting me through the ups and downs, the good and bad, all of it.
“To the Texans organization, the McNairs, Nick (Caserio), DeMeco, words can’t even explain. Y’all drafted me, coming up to get me, man, it meant the absolute world to me, man. Thank y’all so much for believing in me, trusting me to be a part of this organization. I’m forever grateful. And to my teammates, man, thank y’all for the belief, the confidence y’all gave me, man, everything. I appreciate y’all boys.”
The No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Anderson started 13 games for the Texans this season and recorded 45 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, seven sacks and 67 pressures. He also blocked a field goal in his first season in the NFL. Anderson’s seven sacks were a franchise record by a rookie in a single season, while his 67 pressures led all rookies this year.
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Voted on by 50 media members, Anderson won AP Defensive Rookie of the Year with 151 total points and 16 first-place votes. Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter finished in second place with 122 points (14 first-place votes), while Rams defensive tackle Kobie Turner (95 points) was third. Anderson’s Tide teammate Brian Branch received six third-place votes.
Anderson also won the FWAA Rookie of the Year honor last week, and he and teammate CJ Stroud swept the Defensive and Offensive Rookie of the Year awards this season. Anderson is the first former Alabama player to bring home the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year since his current head coach in Houston, DeMeco Ryans, won it with the Texans back in 2006 and is the third Crimson Tide alum to win the award, along with Derrick Thomas (1989).
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