Texans defensive finish Will Anderson Jr. (51), Nov 26, 2023. (AP Photograph/Maria Lysaker)
Houston Texans defensive finish Will Anderson Jr. took the NFL by storm as a rookie final season. He recorded 49 combined tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and eight sacks in 17 video games (together with the playoffs), adequate to earn the NFL Defensive Rookie of the 12 months award and a visit to the 2023 Professional Bowl.
Now 22, in his second yr in Houston’s defensive scheme below head coach DeMeco Ryans, many consider Anderson can catapult himself into discussions about one of the best defender within the NFL in 2024.
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However as for Anderson? His deepest issues lie elsewhere.
“My focus is simply much less on what all people has to say and extra on God,” Anderson told reporters last week at Texans training camp. “I feel my greatest factor is understanding that, like I all the time inform y’all, my approval comes from Him. Finally, every little thing that I obtain on this lifetime, I’m placing Him first for it, as a result of He’s the rationale why I’m right here.
“I feel that’s the distinction. Like, this yr I’m like, ‘God, whether or not it’s a superb sport or dangerous sport — something — You’re gonna get the reward and glory for it. I’m gonna let You utilize me nevertheless You wish to use me every sport.’ I simply wish to be a servant, be a frontrunner, and be a blessing to my teammates and assist them out in any kind of method. In order that’s my entire factor coming into this yr. It’s like, ‘God, nevertheless You wish to use me, I simply wish to be a blessing to this staff.’”
🙏🏼SPECIAL: Will Anderson (@will_anderson28) opens up in regards to the development in his relationship with Jesus Christ through the offseason.
“I’m gonna allow you to use me nevertheless you wish to use me every sport. I simply wish to be a servant, be a frontrunner and be a blessing to my teammates.”
🤲🏻🤲🏻🤲🏻 pic.twitter.com/F9saAPqT1T
— Will Kunkel (@WillKunkelFOX) July 18, 2024
The Texans drafted Anderson No. 3 total out of Alabama in 2023, transferring up within the draft order from the No. 12 place in a commerce with the Arizona Cardinals. Anderson’s choice was proper after Houston had picked former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud at No. 2 total; Stroud went on to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the 12 months. Final season was additionally Ryans’ first as an NFL head coach, returning to the staff he starred for from 2006-11.
Careers now inextricably intertwined, the three new faces rapidly captured the hearts of Texans followers in all places. Collectively, Ryans, Stroud and Anderson reversed the path of all the franchise, which had gained solely 11 video games mixed through the earlier three seasons.
The Texans dropped their first two regular-season video games final yr, however then gained 10 of their subsequent 15 to seize the AFC South division title for the primary time since 2019. Then within the playoffs, they despatched the Cleveland Browns packing within the wild-card spherical earlier than falling to the Baltimore Ravens within the divisional spherical.
Following his memorable rookie season, Anderson addressed the media a closing time. He was requested how he grew as a person through the season, and he took the chance to speak in regards to the methods he had seen God at work in his life.
“I might simply say my religion,” Anderson answered, “simply getting nearer to God.”
He credited members of Houston’s workers with mentoring him and inspiring him in religion throughout his rookie season, saying they helped him to “be nearer to God and understanding His Phrase and understanding how particular He’s and the way a lot grace and mercy that He has over our lives.
“It’s so loopy the way in which God works and the way in which that God will convey folks into your life that will help you develop nearer to Him and put you in conditions to know that, ‘I all the time obtained My hand on you.’ … The one particular person I gotta please is God. That’s the one particular person I want approval from. It’s God.”
Anderson publicly spoke about his faith in God while at Alabama, when he and teammate Bryce Young determined to play within the Sugar Bowl as a substitute of opting out throughout their closing yr with the Crimson Tide. Anderson additionally writes “GOD DID!” in his Instagram bio, and he’s been identified to post Bible verses on the social media platform.
As Anderson stands on the precipice of what many consider could possibly be a historic second season within the NFL, the surface strain to carry out is mounting. But he’s not involved with the approval of the numerous NFL pundits, all with their very own opinions. He’s involved with praising God together with his phrases and actions, and resting within the final approval that comes from the Lord.
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