Will Anderson Jr. facts for kids
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Anderson Jr. at the 2023 NFL Combine
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| No. 51 – Houston Texans | |||||||||||
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| Position: | Defensive end | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | September 2, 2001 Hampton, Georgia, U.S. |
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| 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 | |||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of Week 15, 2024 | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
William "Will" Anderson Jr. (born September 2, 2001) is an American professional football player. He plays as a defensive end for the Houston Texans in the National Football League (NFL). A defensive end is a player who tries to stop the other team's offense.
Before joining the NFL, Will played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He won many awards there, including the Bronko Nagurski Trophy twice. He also helped Alabama win a national championship in 2020. In 2023, the Texans picked him third overall in the 2023 NFL draft. He was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in his first season.
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Will Anderson Jr.: Football Star
Will Anderson Jr. is a talented football player known for his strong defense. He has quickly become a star in the NFL. His journey from high school to college and then to the pros shows his dedication.
Growing Up and High School Football
Will Anderson Jr. was born on September 2, 2001, in Hampton, Georgia. He went to Dutchtown High School. During his senior year in 2019, he was amazing on the field. He made 22 "sacks," which means he tackled the opposing team's quarterback. He also had 15 "tackles for loss," stopping players behind their starting line.
Will was chosen for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Super 11" team. He also played in the 2020 All-American Bowl, a special game for top high school players. After high school, he decided to play college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
College Football Journey
In 2020, as a freshman, Will became a starter at outside linebacker for Alabama. He was named second-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC). That year, he had seven sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. His team, the Crimson Tide, won the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship.
As a sophomore in 2021, Will had an even better season. He won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, an award for the best defensive player. He was also named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He was voted a unanimous All-American, meaning he was recognized as one of the best players in the country. He led the nation with 17.5 sacks and 34.5 tackles for loss.
Amazing College Awards
In 2022, Will continued to impress. He made an exciting play by intercepting a pass and running it back 25 yards for a touchdown. That season, he had 51 total tackles and ten sacks. His ten sacks were the most in the SEC for 2022.
Will won many major awards in 2022. These included the Bronko Nagurski Award (again!), the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Lott Impact Trophy, and the Lombardi Award. He was again named a consensus All-American and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
Becoming an NFL Pro
In the 2023 NFL draft, Will Anderson Jr. was a highly sought-after player. The Houston Texans traded up to pick him third overall. This was a big deal, showing how much they wanted him on their team. On June 23, 2023, Will signed a four-year contract with the Texans. This contract was worth $35.2 million, including a large signing bonus of $22.6 million.
Rookie Year Success
Will made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Ravens. He immediately showed his skills, recording one sack and six total tackles. In Week 13, he had his first game with multiple sacks, getting two against the Broncos. As a rookie, he played in 15 games and started 13 of them. He finished his first season with seven sacks and 45 total tackles.
His excellent performance earned him the title of NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. He was also named to the PFWA NFL All-Rookie Team. Because of his great play, he was chosen for the 2023 Pro Bowl. In his first playoff game, he also had a sack against the Browns. In Week 6 of the 2024 season, he had three sacks in one game, earning him the AFC Defensive Player of the Week award.
Off the Field
Will Anderson Jr. is a Christian. He is the son of Will Anderson Sr. and Tereon Anderson. He also has five older sisters.
