Will Anderson discusses last season's Heisman hype, how it's a goal in this season

Last season, Will Anderson put himself on the map for Alabama — and into the Heisman Trophy conversation. He didn’t end up going to New York for the ceremony, but the Heisman wasn’t even on his radar at this time last year.

What difference a year makes. Now, he wants to win it.

Speaking on The Paul Finebaum Show on Friday, Anderson talked about what it meant to finish fifth in the Heisman voting last season, just missing out on the trip to New York, where teammate Bryce Young won the award. As he gets ready for what could be his last year in Tuscaloosa, he reflected on his journey to Heisman contention.

“I want to just give a big shout out to all the people that supported me even though, you know, they thought I should have been there and I thought I should have been there, for them recognizing my play and my hard work,” Anderson said. “Like I told many people, it was quite a blessing because when I sat down and wrote my goals for the offseason, the Heisman was not even in my mind. It was nowhere to be found.

“When the train got rolling and everything, the Heisman hype started, I think it was pretty cool, I thought it was really dope for a defensive player to get that hype. And, you know, I started thinking that I did have a chance. I was out there playing hard, just helping my teammates out by doing my best. But overall, I’m looking forward to that again. It’s most definitely on my goal list this year coming up. I’m looking forward to it. … I think it would be cool.”

Last year was a breakout season for Anderson en route to the Heisman conversation. He had 101 total tackles and 17.5 to anchor the Alabama defense en route to a national championship appearance against Georgia. Now, he’s getting for what could be his final year of eligibility if he tests the NFL Draft waters after the season.