London, ON - Western's prestigious Purple Blankets are presented to the student athletes who, in the opinion of the Selection Committee, achieved superior distinction at the Provincial/National level of competition as representatives of Western.

Erik Andersen of the Mustangs Football team is a 2026 recipient of this honour.



Erik Andersen has been a cornerstone on the Mustangs offensive line for the past 5 seasons. Joining the football team in 2021, Erik quickly made an impact earning a starting spot on a veteran offensive line in the early stages of training camp. Erik never looked back after his first year, continuing to earn individual accolades and multiple team championships as a Mustang.

Erik is a five-time OUA all-star, three-time U SPORTS first team All Canadian, two-time winner of the JP Metras Trophy as the best down lineman in the OUA and was named 2025 U SPORTS JP Metras Award winner as the best down lineman in the nation. He is a three-time Yates Cup Champion and a Vanier Cup Champion.

Congratulations Erik on this well deserved honour. The full list of Purple Blanket winners can be found HERE.