Report: Former Alabama five-star recruit reveals shocking season at Alabama that left him depressed
Former Alabama five-star recruit was widely regarded as a tenacious and relentless football player with a vibrant personality during his time at Alabama. However, what remained hidden from the public was the internal struggle he faced, especially in his final season with the Crimson Tide.
In an interview with Tyler Dunne of Go Long, Anderson opened up about his challenging 2022 season, marked by a decline in performance compared to his dominant 2021 campaign. He admitted that the downturn led him to question his faith and even battle depression, leaving him feeling lost.
“My faith was very low — questioning God. Depressed. All those things,” Anderson revealed. “Looking back now, I wish I could have done so many things differently.”
“My last year at Alabama, I was just lost. I was lost,” he added.
In 2022, Anderson’s sack total dropped from 17.5 the previous year to 10, with his tackles for loss decreasing from 34.5 to 17. His total tackles also fell from 102 to 51. A contributing factor was a shift in his defensive alignment under new outside linebackers coach Coleman Hutzler, who replaced veteran coach Sal Sunseri. Anderson was moved to the “4i” position, lining up on the inside shoulder of the offensive tackle, which limited his effectiveness around the edge, where he had excelled the year before.
Although Anderson didn’t delve deeply into his disagreements with Hutzler, he made it clear they didn’t see eye to eye on many things. Despite Alabama finishing 11-2 and Anderson still being recognized as one of the top defensive players in the country, the pressure from both external expectations and his own wore him down to the point where he was eager to move on.
“I wasn’t standing firm on who I was,” Anderson said. “I wasn’t standing firm on the foundation my parents had already built for me. I was letting all that negativity wear me down. I had to suck it up and just get through the season, do what I needed to do, and get out of there.”
Despite the statistical decline, Anderson’s draft stock remained strong, and the Houston Texans aggressively moved up to select him with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Anderson went on to find peace at the NFL level, helping Houston make the playoffs and earning the league’s Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.