Alabama LB Will Anderson Jr. Named SEC Defensive Player of the Week
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — After turning in a noteworthy performance in Alabama's win at Florida, Will Anderson Jr. was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.
He totaled a career-high in tackles for loss with 3.5 on the day, and it was also a team-high in what proved to be pivotal to the Crimson Tide winning 31-29 over Florida in its SEC opener.
Anderson Jr.'s seven total stops in Saturday's game ranked third among Alabama defenders, and the performance elevates him to 20th among SEC defenders in total tackles and fourth in the conference in tackles for loss.
Though it's his first SEC Defensive Player of the Week accolade, the Alabama coaching staff named him its player of the week on that side of the ball as recognition for his performance in the Crimson Tide's season-opening win over Miami.
Leading up to his sophomore campaign in 2021, the Hampton, Georgia, native was named to the preseason All-SEC first team and was noted as an All-American candidate by the Associated Press.
Among other awards, particularly the Walter Camp Player of the Year, Anderson Jr. was tabbed to five preseason watch lists for individual awards heading into the 2021 season.
The Crimson Tide defender, as a freshman in 2020, was the recipient of the FWAA-Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award, selected by the Football Writers Association, and was also selected to the SEC All-Freshman Team after tallying 52 total tackles and a team-high eight quarterback hurries.
And through 16 career games at the Capstone, never has Anderson Jr. missed the opening snap as a starter.
