Alabama's Will Anderson, Jr. Wins Rotary Lombardi Award

TUSCALOOSA, AL — At this rate, there may not be anyone else in college football to receive a defensive award if Will Anderson Jr. has anything to say about it.

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In just his latest honor, the standout Crimson Tide linebacker on Wednesday night was named the 2022 winner of the Rotary Lombardi Award, presented each year to the nation's most outstanding offensive or defensive lineman by the Rotary Club of Houston.

Anderson edged out Georgia's Brock Bowers and Jalen Carter, along with Tuli Tuipulotu of Southern Cal to win the coveted award.

The latest hardware for Anderson marks the third time in program history an Alabama player has won the award — Jonathan Allen in 2016 and Cornelius Bennett in 1986. The award, named after NFL Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi, has been presented since 1970.

Anderson is also a finalist for the Bednarik Award — the most prestigious postseason accolade presented exclusively to the nation's most outstanding defensive player. The award will be presented Thursday night during a ceremony broadcast on ESPN. at 6 p.m. local time.

In addition to the Lombardi Award, Anderson has also won the following awards for the 2022 season:

• The Nagurski Trophy
• Associated Press SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
• SEC Defensive Player of the Year

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