Will Anderson Jr. Secures Unanimous All-American Status; Evan Neal, Bryce Young Consensus Choices

University of Alabama sophomore linebacker Will Anderson became a unanimous All-American for the 2021 college football season when the American Football Coaches Association announced its first- and second-team selections Wednesday morning.

Quarterback Bryce Young, who won the Heisman Trophy, and tackle Evan Neal secured consensus All-American status.

The AFCA is one of five services the NCAA uses to determine unanimous and consensus status along with the Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, Walter Camp Foundation and The Sporting News.

Young was a first-team selection by the AP, FWAA and Sporting News. The Walter Camp Foundation doesn't select a second team.

Linebacker Will Anderson Jr. and offensive lineman Evan Neal have landed first-team selections from the AFCA, while defensive back Jordan Battle, defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis, wide receiver Jameson Williams and quarterback Bryce Young made the second team.

The AFCA has selected an All-America team since 1945 and currently selects teams in all five of its divisions.

Anderson Jr. leads the nation in tackles for loss with 32.5, and sacks with 15.5. He totaled 92 tackles, good for second on the Alabama defense, while adding a team-high nine quarterback hurries and two pass breakups.

2021 AFCA FBS Coaches’ All-America Team

FIRST TEAM

Offense

Pos Name Ht. Wt. Cl. School Coach Hometown (High School)

WR Chris Olave 6-1 188 Sr. Ohio State Ryan Day San Ysidro, Calif. (Mission Hills)

WR David Bell 6-2 205 Jr. Purdue Jeff Brohm Indianapolis, Ind. (Warren Central)

TE Trey McBride 6-4 260 Sr. Colorado State Steve Addazio Fort Morgan, Colo. (Fort Morgan)

OL Evan Neal 6-7 350 Jr. Alabama Nick Saban Okeechobee, Fla. (IMG Academy)

OL Darian Kinnard 6-5 345 Sr. Kentucky Mark Stoops Knoxville, Tenn. (St. Ignatius (Ohio)

C Tyler Linderbaum 6-3 290 Jr. Iowa Kirk Ferentz Solon, Iowa (Solon)

OL Ikem Ekwonu 6-4 320 So. NC State Dave Doeren Charlotte, N.C. (Providence Day)

OL Thayer Munford 6-6 320 Sr. Ohio State Ryan Day Cincinnati, Ohio (Massillon Washington)

QB Kenny Pickett 6-3 220 R-Sr. Pittsburgh Pat Narduzzi Oakhurst, N.J. (Ocean Township)

RB *Breece Hall 6-1 220 Jr. Iowa State Matt Campbell Wichita, Kan. (Northwest)

RB Kenneth Walker III 5-10 210 Jr. Michigan State Mel Tucker Arlington, Tenn. (Arlington)

Defense

DL *Jordan Davis 6-6 340 Sr. Georgia Kirby Smart Charlotte, N.C. (Mallard Creek)

DL Aidan Hutchinson 6-6 265 Sr. Michigan Jim Harbaugh Plymouth, Mich. (Divine Child)

DL Kayvon Thibodeaux 6-5 258 So. Oregon Mario Cristobal Los Angeles, Calif. (Oaks Christian)

DL George Karlaftis 6-4 275 Jr. Purdue Jeff Brohm West Lafayette, Ind. (West Lafayette)

LB Will Anderson Jr. 6-4 243 So. Alabama Nick Saban Hampton, Ga. (Dutchtown)

LB Nakobe Dean 6-0 225 Jr. Georgia Kirby Smart Horn Lake, Miss. (Horn Lake)

LB Leo Chenal 6-2 261 Jr. Wisconsin Paul Chryst Grantsburg, Wis. (Grantsburg)

DB Jalen Pitre 6-0 197 Sr. Baylor Dave Aranda Stafford, Tex. (Stafford)

DB *Ahmad Gardner 6-3 200 Jr. Cincinnati Luke Fickell Detroit, Mich. (Martin Luther King)

DB Coby Bryant 6-1 198 Gr. Cincinnati Luke Fickell Cleveland, Ohio (Glenville)

DB *Kyle Hamilton 6-4 220 Jr. Notre Dame Brian Kelly Atlanta, Ga. (Marist School)

Specialists

P Matt Araiza 6-2 200 Jr. San Diego State Brady Hoke San Diego, Calif. (Rancho Bernardo)

PK Jake Moody 6-1 211 Sr. Michigan Jim Harbaugh Northville, Mich. (Northville)

AP Jayden Reed 6-0 185 R-Jr. Michigan State Mel Tucker Naperville, Ill. (Central)

LS Cal Adomitis 6-2 250 R-Sr. Pittsburgh Pat Narduzzi Pittsburgh, Pa. (Central Catholic)

SECOND TEAM

Offense

WR Jameson Williams 6-2 189 Jr. Alabama Nick Saban St. Louis, Mo. (Cardinal Ritter College Prep)

WR Jordan Addison 6-0 175 So. Pittsburgh Pat Narduzzi Frederick, Md. (Tuscarora)

TE Michael Mayer 6-4 251 So. Notre Dame Brian Kelly Independence, Ky. (Covington Catholic)

OL Zion Johnson 6-3 316 Gr. Boston College Jeff Hafley Bowie, Md. (Riverdale Baptist)

OL Jamaree Salyer 6-4 325 Sr. Georgia Kirby Smart Atlanta, Ga. (Pace Academy)

C Zach Frazier 6-3 306 So. West Virginia Neal Brown Fairmont, W.Va. (Senior)

OL Andrew Stueber 6-7 338 Gr. Michigan Jim Harbaugh Darien, Conn. (Darien)

OL *Kenyon Green 6-4 325 Jr. Texas A&M Jimbo Fisher Humble, Tex. (Atascocita)

QB Bryce Young 6-0 194 So. Alabama Nick Saban Pasadena, Calif. (Mater Dei)

RB Hassan Haskins 6-1 220 Sr. Michigan Jim Harbaugh St. Louis, Mo. (Eureka Senior)

RB Sean Tucker 5-10 210 Fr. Syracuse Dino Babers Owings Mills, Md. (Calvert Hall)

Defense

DL Phidarian Mathis 6-4 312 R-Sr. Alabama Nick Saban Wisner, La. (Neville)

DL Jermaine Johnson II 6-5 262 R-Sr. Florida State Mike Norvell Eden Prairie, Minn. (Eden Prairie)

DL Jalen Carter 6-3 310 So. Georgia Kirby Smart Apopka, Fla. (Apopka)

DL DeMarvin Leal 6-4 290 Jr. Texas A&M Jimbo Fisher San Antonio, Tex. (Judson)

LB Quay Walker 6-4 240 Sr. Georgia Kirby Smart Cordele, Ga. (Crisp County)

LB Malcolm Rodriguez 5-11 225 Sr. Oklahoma State Mike Gundy Wagoner, Okla. (Wagoner)

LB Devin Lloyd 6-3 235 Jr. Utah Kyle Whittingham Chula Vista, Calif. (Otay Ranch)

DB Jordan Battle 6-1 210 Jr. Alabama Nick Saban Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (St. Thomas Aquinas)

DB Matt Hankins 6-0 185 Sr. Iowa Kirk Ferentz Lewisville, Tex. (Marcus)

DB Verone McKinley III 5-11 194 So. Oregon Mario Cristobal Carrollton, Tex. (Hebron)

DB Jaquan Brisker 6-1 200 Sr. Penn State James Franklin Pittsburgh, Pa. (Gateway)

Specialists

P Jordan Stout 6-3 209 R-Sr. Penn State James Franklin Cedar Bluff, Va. (Honaker)

PK Noah Ruggles 6-2 190 Gr. Ohio State Ryan Day Odessa, Fla. (Steinbrenner)

AP Deuce Vaughn 5-6 173 So. Kansas State Chris Klieman Round Rock, Tex. (Cedar Ridge)

LS Matt Hembrough 6-3 215 R-Sr. Oklahoma State Mike Gundy Lisle, Ill. (Benet)

*–2020 AFCA All-American