Wikipedia

Troy Andersen

Troy Andersen (born April 23, 1999) is an American professional football linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Montana State where previously played quarterback, running back and fullback for them before moving to linebacker. He was named a FCS All-American and the Big Sky Conference defensive player of the year in 2021.

Troy Andersen
refer to caption
Andersen in 2022
No. 44 – Atlanta Falcons
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1999-04-23) April 23, 1999 (age 25)
Dillon, Montana, U.S
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school:Beaverhead County
(Dillon, Montana)
College:Montana State (2017–2021)
NFL draft:2022 / round: 2 / pick: 58
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team FCS All-American (2021)
  • Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year (2021)
  • Big Sky Freshman of the Year (2017)[a]
  • 3× First-team All-Big Sky (2018[b]–2021)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 8, 2024
Total tackles:132
Sacks:0.5
Forced fumbles:1
Pass deflections:2
Interceptions:1
Defensive touchdowns:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

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Andersen was born on April 23, 1999, and grew up on his family's cattle ranch in Dillon, Montana.[1][2] He attended Beaverhead County High School, where he played quarterback and safety for their football team, as well as on their basketball and track teams. As a senior, Andersen was named first-team All-State at quarterback and safety, as well as the Montana Defensive Player of the Year, after he passed for 1,403 yards, rushed for 877 yards, and scored 30 total touchdowns on offense and had 71 tackles with three interceptions and two fumbles recovered on defense while Beaverhead won the Class A state championship.[3]

College career

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Andersen started games at both running back and linebacker as a true freshman and was named the Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year after rushing for 515 yards and five touchdowns with seven receptions for 45 yards and one touchdown on offense and recording nine tackles with one sack on defense.[4] He moved to quarterback before his sophomore season after two-year starter Chris Murray was ruled academically ineligible to play.[5] Andersen completed 115 of 208 passes for 1,195 yards with three touchdowns and seven interceptions and also rushed for 1,412 yards and a school-record 21 touchdowns and was named first-team All-Big Sky.[6]

Andersen moved back to linebacker and also played fullback as a junior. He was named first-team all-conference after finishing the season with 54 tackles, 11.5 for loss, and 6.5 sacks with one interception and five passes broken up.[7] Andersen redshirted his senior season while recovering from injuries.[8] As a redshirt senior, Andersen was named the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year and was the runner-up for the Buck Buchanan Award.[9][10] Andersen played in the 2022 Senior Bowl.[11]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 3+1⁄2 in
(1.92 m) 		243 lb
(110 kg) 		32+1⁄8 in
(0.82 m) 		9+1⁄4 in
(0.23 m)		 4.42 s 1.51 s 2.53 s 4.07 s 6.77 s 36.0 in
(0.91 m)		 10 ft 8 in
(3.25 m)
Sources:[12][13]

Andersen was drafted in the second round with the 58th overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2022 NFL draft.[14] The Falcons previously obtained the pick in the trade that sent Julio Jones to the Tennessee Titans. Andersen made his season debut in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams. In Week 6 against the San Francisco 49ers, Andersen made his first professional start, where had a season-high 13 tackles in the 28–14 win.[15] He finished the season with 69 tackles through 17 games and five starts.

On September 26, 2023, Andersen was placed on injured reserve after suffering a shoulder/pectoral injury in Week 3.[16]

In Week 4 of the 2024 season, Andersen recorded 16 tackles and returned an interception 47 yards for a touchdown in a 26-24 win over the New Orleans Saints, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week.[17]

Personal life

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Andersen is a cousin of Major League Baseball pitcher Codi Heuer.[18] His father played college basketball at Eastern Oregon University, while his sister ran track at Montana State.[19] Andersen graduated from Montana State with a degree in agricultural business in May 2021.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Brugler, Dane. "The Beast: 2022 NFL Draft Guide" (PDF). The Athletic. p. 206. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  2. ^ Schwedelson, Paul (November 15, 2018). "Upbringing on ranch prepared Andersen for uncanny role with Bobcats". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  3. ^ Mansch, Scott (February 1, 2017). "MSU recruiting: Top talent Andersen leads class". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  4. ^ "Montana State freshman Troy Andersen a finalist for Jerry Rice Award". Billings Gazette. November 20, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  5. ^ Collingwood, Ryan (September 25, 2018). "Eastern Washington notebook: Quarterback Troy Andersen does it all for resurgent Montana State". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  6. ^ "Montana's Dante Olson, Montana State's Troy Andersen land on STATS All-America teams". Missoulian. December 18, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  7. ^ Flores, Victor (August 7, 2021). "Anticipation building for return of Troy Andersen, 'the focal point' of Montana State's defense". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  8. ^ "Montana State LB Troy Andersen expected to miss 2020 season". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 3, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  9. ^ "Montana State's Troy Andersen named Big Sky defensive player of year, Bobcats earn all-conference honors". Clearfield Progress. November 23, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  10. ^ Pool, Colton (January 7, 2022). "Florida A&M's Isaiah Land narrowly beats Montana State's Troy Andersen for Buchanan Award". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  11. ^ "Montana State's Troy Andersen accepts Senior Bowl invitation". Missoulian. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  12. ^ "Troy Andersen Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  13. ^ "Troy Andersen, Montana State, OLB, 2022 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  14. ^ Bair, Scott; McElhaney, Tori (April 29, 2022). "Falcons select ILB Troy Andersen with No. 58 overall 2022 NFL Draft pick". AtlantaFalcons.com. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  15. ^ "San Francisco 49ers at Atlanta Falcons - October 16th, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  16. ^ "Falcons place linebacker Troy Andersen on injured reserve". AtlantaFalcons.com. September 26, 2023.
  17. ^ Gordon, Grant (October 2, 2024). "Ravens RB Derrick Henry, Lions QB Jared Goff highlight Players of the Week". NFL.com.
  18. ^ Mansch, Scott (December 15, 2021). "Montana State star Troy Andersen has roots in Murray County". The Globe. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  19. ^ Mansch, Scott (April 14, 2018). "Bobcat star Troy Andersen has high hopes for 2018 season". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved January 25, 2022.

Notes

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  1. ^ Selected as running back
  2. ^ Selected as quarterback
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