Will Anderson Jr. To Follow DeMeco Ryans' Texans Footsteps?

DeMeco Ryans won Defensive Rookie of the Year with Houston in 2005... Is Will Anderson Jr. next?

It's a beautiful time for the NFL. Training camps are underway as players compete for jobs and every team is undefeated.

The Houston Texans are taking the field at the Houston Methodist Training Center with an exciting roster and a very healthy attitude after an offseason of changes. First-year head coach DeMeco Ryans is leading the rebuild with marquee rookie additions to the squad in former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud and Alabama edge-rusher Will Anderson Jr.

Both enter training camp with high expectations ... but Anderson comes to Houston with the tag of "the best prospect in this NFL Draft," from many scouts. 

The Texans' decision to trade up to the No. 3 pick to snag him has motivated Anderson to build a stable foundation to lean upon throughout his pro career. His offseason workouts stood out to Ryans, who was specifically impressed with Anderson's time spent with defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire.

Ryans understands what it takes to excel in a rookie season, as he won Defensive Rookie of the Year with Houston in 2005. Anderson Jr. is NFL.com's pick for frontrunner with the best-odds to win the prestigious award this season as the "most polished pass-rush prospect" in his class.

"Anderson is a three-down defender capable of making splash plays against the run and pass. His explosive closing burst can turn pressures into sacks against plodding left tackles and in creative blitz packages. I expect him to consistently stress the pocket as a one-on-one rusher," writes NFL.com

Houston's last defensive rookie of the year winner was Brian Cushing in 2009. Have the Texans found their star anchor in Anderson to help improve their 30th ranked defense from 2022?

The awards come later. But the march to achieve? It all starts now, with training camp. 

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