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Alabama LB Will Anderson Jr. isn't a Heisman finalist. How he and teammates reacted

nick kelly, the tuscaloosa news
·2 min read
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Alabama football linebacker Will Anderson Jr. wasn't going to get into the Heisman Trophy finalist debate as to why he wasn't included.

His focus is going to remain on pursuing a national championship, he said.

"You know, it’s God’s plan," Anderson said Tuesday. "It’s not my plan, so I’m just following what God’s got for me. I’m just going to keep on rolling. We good. Bryce’s there. We straight."

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young was one of four finalists announced Monday, along with Pittsburgh's Kenny Pickett, Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson and Ohio State's CJ Stroud.

No Anderson.

Much of the discussion has been about why Hutchinson and not Anderson.

Anderson has 15.5 sacks (first in FBS) and 92 total tackles, according to Alabama's stats. He leads the nation with 32.5 tackles for loss over his 13 games.

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Hutchinson has 13.5 sacks (3rd in FBS), 55 total tackles, two forced fumbles, according to Michigan's stats. He has 15 tackles for loss over his 12 games.

"He’s a hell of a player," Anderson said. He’s very physical. He can (rush the passer). All credit to him. Congratulations to him as well.”

Although Anderson didn't try to say he belonged as a finalist, his teammates who also spoke Tuesday did.

"If you look at numbers, you look at production, I definitely think he deserves to be there," Young said. "It's unfortunate that he's not going to be there. That really sucks, but I definitely think he should be there."

Wide receiver Jameson Williams also said Anderson belongs with Young in New York, where the Heisman ceremony will be held Saturday at 7 p.m. CT.

"Will has had one of the best seasons I’ve ever seen a defensive player have," Williams said. "He’s been a very good player, a very good person to the team this whole season. My pitch would have been for Will to be in the Heisman race too."

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Contact Alabama reporter Nick Kelly: nkelly@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @_NickKelly

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: How Alabama's Will Anderson Jr. responded to missing Heisman cut