More than a year after his time in Alabama football, Will Anderson Jr. ‘s Houston Texans have taken charge of his episodes of loss, depression and difficulties in college. The NFL’s 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year is already making headlines for an impressive offseason this summer. Still, in a profile of Go Long’s Tyler Dunne, Anderson delved into his personal life, beyond Alabama football, talking about bullying, his doubts and how he’s evolved since graduating from college.
“My religion is very weak: I questioned God. All of that stuff,” Anderson said. Come to think of it, I wish I could do so many things differently.
“My senior year in Alabama, I just lost. Lost.
After a dominant season in 2021 with the Crimson Tide, Anderson lost his way when his production on the field didn’t meet his expectations. A tweak to where he hid on the court took him out of his comfort zone by running to the edge, where sacks and big plays were less difficult the year before. Anderson didn’t go into much detail, but he clashed with Alabama football’s outside linebackers coach, Coleman Hutzler.
“We didn’t agree on a lot of things. “
Dates with his parents were also tense. Despite continued good luck in his 2022 season, Anderson felt trapped.
“He didn’t keep me company about who he was,” Anderson says. “I didn’t hold on to the foundations my parents had already built for me. I let those things feed me. All this negativity. And it exhausted me, exhausted me, exhausted me. I had to let it go and “let’s move on to the season. ” Let’s do whatever you want and get out of there.
Will Anderson discovered the strength to call for help. It’s not football, it’s not Alabama, it’s in it. He sprained his ankle in Week 14 against the New York Jets and woke up.
“That’s when everything changed for me,” Anderson says. “It’s okay to say, ‘Oh my God, I want your help. Oh my God, can you take this away from me?’ I think once I started realizing this part my life became easier. I stopped seeking to live for other people and live for God because other people will love you one day and hate you the next The only approval I want is. From God. Once I followed this mindset, my life was much easier.
Expectations remain exorbitant for the Houston Texans and Anderson Jr. The second-year star has a strong chance of making the most sensible 10 to be the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year. He missed time with a minor injury this preseason, but they expect Anderson to be healthy for the first week.
Matt is an associate editor for the NFL and school football at ClutchPoints. He has been covering sports for over 12 years on sites such as Sports Illustrated, The Game Day, and many more. Born and raised in California, he graduated from Virginia Tech and is a die-hard Hokies fan who now lives in Southern Maryland.