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Will Anderson snubbed? Fans react to Alabama defensive star not being a Heisman finalist
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Four finalists for the Heisman Trophy were revealed on Monday night. Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. was not one of those finalists.
And this isn’t a situation where only Alabama supporters are feeling cheated by the news, there’s a good percentage of the college football viewing public who has seemingly taken exception with Anderson’s snub. Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson, also an edge rusher, has drawn the brunt of the ire. Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett, Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud, and Alabama quarterback Bryce Young are also finalists.
Anderson’s traditional numbers jump off the page. He has 92 tackles, second-most among Tide defenders, no small feat given the role he plays. He leads the country in tackles for loss with 32.5, with the gap between him and No. 2 on the leaderboard being larger than the gap between No. 2 and No. 75. He also leads the country in sacks with 15.5, 1.5 more than Hutchinson has.
Anderson looks truly elite from an analytical standpoint, too.
Did Will Anderson get snubbed of a Heisman Ceremony invite?
Retweet for yes, Like for yes. pic.twitter.com/PVy5Eay4jT
— CFB Film Room (@CFBFilmRoom) December 7, 2021
But he was not invited.
And people were not happy.
Here’s some of the reaction:
No Will Anderson? Lol. Heisman voters are idiots. https://t.co/6sErCTSWNS
— Eddie Radosevich (@Eddie_Rado) December 6, 2021
Will Anderson and Kenneth Walker should host their own ceremony in protest. https://t.co/mgvWjexpoJ
— Chris Burke (@ChrisBurkeNFL) December 6, 2021
Alabama's Will Anderson: 92 tackles, 53 solo, 32.5 for a loss, 15.5 sacks. Complete domination … yet somehow wasn't even a Heisman Finalist. We must stamp out the Anti-Defensive Player bias. I'm starting the "Anderson for Heisman '22" campaign now.
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) December 6, 2021
Will Anderson: 91 tackles, 15.5 sacks, *31.5 tackles for loss* (2 from the record).
Not enough votes to get to New York.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 6, 2021
Will Anderson in the Playoff after being disrespected by award voters pic.twitter.com/eDUCj2wPmm
— Clint Lamb (@ClintRLamb) December 6, 2021
If you have a heisman trophy ballot, you owe Will Anderson a handwritten apology note
— William Galloway (@Wm_Galloway) December 6, 2021
I know I cover him, but it’s laughable Will Anderson could possibly not win a national award this year.
— Aaron Suttles (@AaronSuttles) December 6, 2021
When I am CFB Commissioner each Heisman voter will have to pass a yearly College Football literacy test administered by me
Will Anderson not being in NYC is insane https://t.co/BsYlMaqRHg
— Josh Pate (@LateKickJosh) December 7, 2021
Cincinnati when they realize they have to face a disrespected Will Anderson now pic.twitter.com/MeTnJuMR7u
— Trinidad C. Miller (@trin_miller61) December 6, 2021
No Will Anderson? How? Do yall even care about football? Is this a joke? Imagine if a Bosa brother put up the numbers Will has.
— Alphonse Taylor (@SHANKK50) December 6, 2021
It is criminal that Will Anderson isn’t going to New York.
— Bryant-Denny Stadium (@BryantDenny_UA) December 6, 2021
Will Anderson not being a Heisman finalist is pretty ridiculous. Voters did a bad job.
Anderson and Hutchinson should both be finalists. Dudes are awesome. But Anderson had better numbers.
Anderson: 31.5 TFLs, 15.5 sacks
Hutchinson: 15.5 TFLs, 14 sacks— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) December 6, 2021
Will Anderson is not a Heisman finalist.
Call the thing off.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 6, 2021
Can't get past this Will Anderson thing. Can't say I'm surprised though. Somehow, the most dominant OLB in years — who *plays for Alabama* — has not gotten nearly the attention Chase Young did in '19, or even Hutchinson (who is perfectly deserving himself) this year.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 6, 2021
Will Anderson is one of only two Power 5 players through at least the last 20 years with 90+ tackles, 20+ tackles for loss and 12+ sacks. The only other: Arizona’s Scooby Wright in 2014.
Anderson’s current numbers (in 13 games):
— 91 tackles
— 31.5 tackles for loss
— 15.5 sacks— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 7, 2021
They must have forgotten Will Anderson plays football https://t.co/GZSu1qXPkx
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) December 6, 2021
Will Anderson looking at the Heisman committee like pic.twitter.com/bnAZtUkSKz
— Esther Scott Workman (@estherscott) December 7, 2021
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
