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Troy Andersen
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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 for the Montana State Bobcats 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.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]| 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 selected 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]
NFL career statistics
[edit]Regular season
[edit]| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Fumbles | Interceptions | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | FF | FR | Yds | TD | Int | Yds | TD | PD | ||
| 2022 | ATL | 17 | 5 | 69 | 40 | 29 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2023 | ATL | 2 | 2 | 19 | 7 | 12 | 0.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | ATL | 7 | 4 | 47 | 28 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 47 | 1 | 1 |
| Career | 26 | 11 | 192 | 75 | 60 | 0.5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 47 | 1 | 2 | |
Personal life
[edit]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
[edit]- ^ a b Brugler, Dane. "The Beast: 2022 NFL Draft Guide" (PDF). The Athletic. p. 206. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 7, 2022. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
- ^ Schwedelson, Paul (November 15, 2018). "Upbringing on ranch prepared Andersen for uncanny role with Bobcats". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ Mansch, Scott (February 1, 2017). "MSU recruiting: Top talent Andersen leads class". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ "Montana State freshman Troy Andersen a finalist for Jerry Rice Award". Billings Gazette. November 20, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Montana's Dante Olson, Montana State's Troy Andersen land on STATS All-America teams". Missoulian. December 18, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Montana State LB Troy Andersen expected to miss 2020 season". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 3, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Montana State's Troy Andersen accepts Senior Bowl invitation". Missoulian. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ Reuter, Chad; Zierlein, Lance. "Troy Andersen Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ "Troy Andersen, Montana State, OLB, 2022 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "San Francisco 49ers at Atlanta Falcons - October 16th, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ Waack, Terrin (September 26, 2023). "Falcons place linebacker Troy Andersen on injured reserve". Atlanta Falcons. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
- ^ Gordon, Grant (October 2, 2024). "Ravens RB Derrick Henry, Lions QB Jared Goff highlight Players of the Week". NFL.com.
- ^ Mansch, Scott (December 15, 2021). "Montana State star Troy Andersen has roots in Murray County". The Globe. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ Mansch, Scott (April 14, 2018). "Bobcat star Troy Andersen has high hopes for 2018 season". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
Notes
[edit]- ^ Selected as running back
- ^ Selected as quarterback
External links
[edit]Troy Andersen
View on GrokipediaEarly life
Family and upbringing
Troy Andersen was born on April 23, 1999, in Dillon, Montana.[19] He grew up on his family's cattle ranch in rural Beaverhead County, where he participated in daily chores such as tending to approximately 800 head of cattle, cutting hay, baling hay, and raking hay alongside family members.[20] This ranch life instilled a strong work ethic in Andersen from a young age, emphasizing responsibility and physical endurance as integral parts of his childhood environment.[7] Andersen's parents, Scott and Nicole Andersen, played central roles in his upbringing on the ranch.[21] His father, Scott, who had played college basketball at Eastern Oregon University, and his mother, Nicole, prioritized education and extracurricular activities for their children over ranch duties when possible.[12] They supported Andersen's interests by allowing flexibility in his schedule, such as permitting him to attend open gym sessions for sports practice even during busy ranch periods.[22] Andersen also has an older sister, Holly, who assisted with ranch tasks and later attended Montana State University, where she competed in track.[23] The family's rural setting in Beaverhead County provided Andersen with early exposure to sports through local community activities, fostering his initial interest in athletics.[7] His parents encouraged this development by valuing sports as a key component of family life, which helped cultivate his competitive drive alongside the discipline gained from ranch responsibilities.[24]High school career
Troy Andersen attended Beaverhead County High School in Dillon, Montana, where he emerged as a standout multi-sport athlete.[25] He participated in football, basketball, and track, excelling in each discipline during his high school years.[7] In football, Andersen played both quarterback and safety, showcasing versatility on offense and defense while helping lead the Beavers to competitive success.[26] His upbringing on a ranch in Montana contributed to the physical toughness that underpinned his athletic prowess across these sports.[22] As a senior in 2016, Andersen earned Montana Class A Defensive Player of the Year honors for his impactful play at safety, anchoring a defense that propelled Beaverhead County to the Class A state championship—the program's first title since 1986.[27] That season, he also contributed on offense as quarterback, helping the team secure victories in key games en route to the title.[25] Beyond football, Andersen won individual state championships in track events and led the basketball team to a state title, demonstrating his dominance as a three-sport standout.[23] Andersen's high school performance drew significant recruiting attention, positioning him as the top in-state prospect in Montana's 2017 class.[28] He received scholarship offers from Montana State and the University of Montana after impressing at their respective camps, ultimately committing to Montana State in July 2016 to play for the Bobcats.[28] While other programs showed interest, Andersen chose to stay in-state, citing the opportunity to boost Montana State's recruiting momentum.[28]College career
Early college years (2017–2019)
Andersen enrolled at Montana State University in 2017, majoring in agricultural business.[29] As a true freshman, he demonstrated immediate versatility by contributing on both offense and defense, primarily as a running back and linebacker in all 12 games. Rushing 90 times for 515 yards and five touchdowns, he also caught seven passes for 45 yards and one score, while recording nine tackles, one tackle for loss, and one sack on defense. His multifaceted performance earned him Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year honors and a finalist nod for the Jerry Rice Award, recognizing the top FCS freshman.[30][31][12] In his sophomore year of 2018, Andersen transitioned to quarterback, starting all 12 games and leading the Bobcats to an 8-4 record. He completed 115 of 208 passes for 1,195 yards, three touchdowns, and seven interceptions, while establishing a school single-season record with 1,412 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns on 206 carries—figures that also garnered him first-team All-Big Sky honors at quarterback and third-team All-America recognition as an all-purpose player by STATS Perform. Defensively, he contributed 24 tackles in limited snaps. Notable performances included a 211-yard rushing effort against Northern Iowa, setting a Montana State record for quarterbacks.[12][30][32] Andersen's junior season in 2019 marked a shift to full-time linebacker, though he retained some offensive snaps, appearing in nine games before an injury sidelined him for the final four. He tallied 71 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, one interception, and five pass breakups on defense, while adding 336 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 49 carries offensively. His defensive prowess earned first-team All-Big Sky honors, but a knee injury sustained against UC Davis limited his availability and required surgery the following year.[33][30] Throughout his early college years, Andersen's positional versatility—from running back and linebacker as a freshman, to quarterback as a sophomore, and primarily linebacker as a junior—highlighted his adaptation to FCS-level competition in the Big Sky Conference, building a foundation for his two-way utility while navigating the rigors of Division I football.[13][34]Senior year and accolades (2020–2021)
Andersen's 2020 season at Montana State was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as the Big Sky Conference postponed all fall football competition to the spring of 2021, resulting in no games played for the Bobcats.[35] Despite the cancellation, Andersen served as a team captain, providing leadership during the disrupted period while recovering from knee surgery performed earlier that year.[12] His role emphasized his growing influence on the team, building on prior versatility across positions to solidify his status as a defensive anchor. In his senior year of 2021, Andersen had a breakout performance as an inside linebacker, recording 147 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and 2 interceptions over 14 starts.[36][30] He earned Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year honors, becoming the first Bobcat to win the award since 2008, and was a unanimous First-Team All-America selection by multiple outlets, including the Associated Press and Stats Perform.[37] Additionally, he was named FCS ADA National Defensive Player of the Year and finished as a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, recognizing the top FCS defensive player.[12] These accolades highlighted his transition to a full-time defensive role, where his earlier positional versatility enhanced his instincts and coverage skills. Andersen graduated from Montana State in May 2021 with a bachelor's degree in agricultural business, achieving a 3.91 GPA and earning Academic All-America First-Team honors.[29] His on-field impact propelled Montana State to an 11-2 record and a berth in the FCS playoffs, where the Bobcats advanced to the semifinals before a 35-32 loss to South Dakota State; Andersen contributed significantly, including 15 tackles in a playoff quarterfinal victory over Eastern Washington.[38][29] As part of his pre-draft preparation, Andersen accepted an invitation to the 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl, where he impressed scouts with his athleticism during practices despite competing against higher-division talent.[39] At the NFL Scouting Combine, he showcased elite athletic traits for a linebacker, running a 4.42-second 40-yard dash—the fastest among participants at his position—and posting a 36-inch vertical jump, metrics that underscored his rare size-speed combination standing 6-foot-4 and 243 pounds.[40] Scouting reports praised his prototypical build, explosive closing speed, and range in coverage, positioning him as a high-upside prospect with the physical tools to succeed at the NFL level.[41]Professional career
2022 NFL Draft and rookie season
Andersen was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 58th overall, as an inside linebacker out of Montana State.[42] Prior to the draft, he generated significant hype for his rare athleticism at his size, clocking an official 4.42-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine—the fastest among linebackers—while measuring 6 feet 3½ inches and 243 pounds.[3] Scouts compared his versatility and speed in space to modern off-ball linebackers like Roquan Smith, praising his potential to contribute immediately in multiple phases despite his recent transition from quarterback and running back in college.[43] During rookie training camp and preseason, Andersen competed in a crowded inside linebacker group alongside veterans like Nick Kwiatkoski and Myles Jack, adapting to the faster pace and complexity of NFL defenses.[44] He impressed coaches with his sideline-to-sideline range and tackling instincts, though he faced challenges in coverage drills against quicker receivers, highlighting his rawness as a recent positional convert.[45] His college versatility in multiple roles facilitated a smoother adjustment to the professional level, allowing him to experiment with hybrid alignments early in camp. In the 2022 regular season, Andersen appeared in all 17 games for the Falcons, starting five and recording 69 total tackles (40 solo), three tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, one forced fumble, and one pass defensed, while contributing seven special teams tackles.[46] He made his NFL debut against the New Orleans Saints, appearing on special teams, and earned his first start in Week 6 versus the San Francisco 49ers, where he tallied a career-high 13 tackles. Additionally, he blocked a punt in Week 10 against the Carolina Panthers that was returned for a touchdown, the Falcons' first such score since 1990.[13][14] Coaches, including defensive coordinator Dean Pees, praised his high football IQ and explosive potential, noting he ranked sixth in tackles among NFL rookies despite limited snaps, though they emphasized the need for refined technique to unlock his ceiling.[47]2023–2025 seasons
Andersen's 2023 season was severely curtailed by injuries, limiting him to just two games with two starts, where he recorded 19 combined tackles (seven solo) and half a sack.[48] He suffered a concussion in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers, which caused him to miss the following week's game against the Green Bay Packers.[49] Andersen returned for Week 3 versus the Detroit Lions but sustained a torn pectoral muscle during the contest, leading to his placement on injured reserve and ending his season prematurely.[15] In 2024, Andersen appeared in seven games with four starts, amassing 47 combined tackles (28 solo) and his first career interception, which he returned 47 yards for a touchdown.[48] His standout performance came in Week 4 against the New Orleans Saints, where he tallied 16 tackles and the pick-six in a 26-24 victory, earning him NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career. However, he suffered a knee injury late in Week 4 against the Saints, missing several games before returning later in the season; he was ultimately placed on injured reserve in December due to re-aggravation of the injury, restricting his role to a rotational inside linebacker position amid ongoing recovery challenges.[50] As of November 19, 2025, Andersen has yet to play in the season, having been placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list at the start of training camp due to lingering effects from his 2024 knee injury.[51] He was moved to the reserve/PUP list in late August, sidelining him for at least the first 21 days of the regular season and creating uncertainty about his activation and long-term future with the Falcons.[52] Head coach Raheem Morris has provided non-committal updates, noting Andersen's limited participation over the prior three seasons—only nine games total—while emphasizing the need for depth at inside linebacker.[18] Andersen's injury history, including the 2023 concussion and pectoral tear, the 2024 knee issue, and the ongoing 2025 recovery, has confined him to a rotational role rather than a full-time starting position at inside linebacker, where he competes for snaps against established players like Kaden Elliss and emerging talents such as JD Bertrand on the Falcons' depth chart.[53][54] This pattern of setbacks has hampered his development and consistency within Atlanta's defensive scheme, despite flashes of athletic potential in limited action.[5]Career statistics
College statistics
Troy Andersen's college statistics at Montana State University demonstrate his exceptional versatility, as he contributed significantly on both sides of the ball during his career from 2017 to 2021, redshirting the 2020 season to recover from lower extremity surgery. Cumulatively, he amassed 2,263 rushing yards and 33 rushing touchdowns as a running back and quarterback, alongside 1,195 passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. Defensively, Andersen tallied 214 total tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, and 12 pass breakups over 50 games.[13][12][30] Andersen's offensive production was concentrated in his first three seasons, where he served as a dual-threat quarterback and running back, showcasing elite athleticism with multiple 100-yard rushing games, including a school-record 211 yards as a quarterback in 2018. His defensive statistics, however, highlight a transition to full-time linebacker starting in 2019, where he emerged as a disruptive force, with his tackle totals and tackles for loss reflecting his range and tackling efficiency in the Big Sky Conference. This positional versatility underscores his adaptability, allowing Montana State to deploy him effectively in run-heavy offensive schemes early on and in pass-rushing and coverage roles later.[12][30][13] The following table summarizes key year-by-year metrics, focusing on his primary contributions:| Year | Games | Rushing Yards | Rushing TDs | Passing Yards | Passing TDs | Total Tackles | TFL | Sacks | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 11 | 515 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 13 | 1,412 | 21 | 1,195 | 3 | 4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 11 | 336 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 11.5 | 6.5 | 1 |
| 2021 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 147 | 14.0 | 2.0 | 2 |
| Career | 50 | 2,263 | 33 | 1,195 | 3 | 214 | 27.5 | 10.5 | 3 |
NFL regular season statistics
Troy Andersen has appeared in 26 regular season games for the Atlanta Falcons over his NFL career through the 2024 season, recording 135 total tackles (75 solo), 5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, 1 interception, and 1 forced fumble across 11 starts. As of November 19, 2025, he has not appeared in any games during the 2025 season due to a knee injury. His contributions have primarily come on defense and special teams, with no postseason statistics recorded to date.[48][56] The following table summarizes Andersen's key regular season defensive statistics year by year:| Year | Games Played | Starts | Total Tackles | Solo Tackles | Tackles for Loss | Sacks | Interceptions | Forced Fumbles | Notable Plays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 17 | 5 | 69 | 40 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Blocked punt returned for TD |
| 2023 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 7 | 1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | - |
| 2024 | 7 | 4 | 47 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 INT TD (47 yds) |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| Career | 26 | 11 | 135 | 75 | 5 | 0.5 | 1 | 1 | - |
