Will Anderson Named Shaun Alexander National Freshman Player of the Year

By WVUA 23 Sports Reporter Tatumn Vaught

Freshman linebacker Will Anderson was chosen by the Football Writers Association of America as the 2020 winner of the Shaun Alexander National Freshman Player of the Year. At 6-foot-4-inches and 235 pounds, Anderson led the freshman class with seven sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss for the Tide this season. Anderson was a five-star recruit coming out of Hampton, Georgia, and participated in every game the Tide played in 2020.

“I just want to thank my coaches and my teammates for believing in me, giving me confidence you know looking up to those older guys, Dylan Moses, Christian Harris,” Anderson said. “Their confidence gave me confidence. They believed in me, they believed in the young buck so when I saw their confidence in me I just grew. As a freshman they helped me so I just want to give all thanks to my family for pushing me hard and getting me to this opportunity without them, without my teammates, without my coaches, I don’t think any of this is possible.”

Anderson was also named to the SEC All-Freshman Team and earned second-team All-SEC honors from the AP this season. Anderson will return to the Crimson Tide’s roster next season and remain a significant threat on defense.