The Pro Football Hall of Fame will enshrine its Class of 2024 on Saturday. It’s third set of inductees in a row that almost included Willie Anderson.

The former Vigor High School and Auburn standout has been a modern-era finalist for each of the past three years without taking the step from the last 15 candidates in the selection process to the five who have entered the Hall of Fame in each class.

Has Anderson’s position stopped him on the doorstep of the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Anderson spent almost all his career playing right offensive tackle with the Cincinnati Bengals from 1996 through 2007 and the Baltimore Ravens in 2008.

The most recent right tackle to enter the Hall of Fame is Jackie Slater in the Class of 2001. After a 20-year NFL career, Slater earned selection in his first season of eligibility.

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Since Slater’s enshrinement, seven offensive tackles have been sent into the Hall of Fame on the modern-era ballot. Gary Zimmerman, Willie Roaf, Jonathan Ogden, former Aliceville High School standout Walter Jones, Orlando Pace, Tony Boselli and Joe Thomas were all left tackles.

During an appearance on FanDuel TV’s “Up and Adams,” Anderson said he thought right tackles have had to deal with a media bias that deemed left tackles as more important.

“They didn’t understand that the guys we blocked over there were some of the best rushers of all time,” Anderson said, “and the whole blind-side thing got taken out because of the movie. The right-side guys got pushed away. …

“I think in the ’80s and ’90s, the perception was what Lawrence Taylor did on the left side, everyone threw all their best rushers over to that side, to the blind side. But by the end of the mid-90s to the 2000s, teams were putting rushers everywhere, and I think the blind side became now defined by where the quarterback’s head was turned to, so if my head is turned to the left, my blindside is the right tackle. If the right tackle wasn’t important, then why does (Michael) Strahan and Reggie White have all these damn sacks? I think the media sees it now. The rushers can come from anywhere, and both tackles now are just as important.”

Unlike today, The Associated Press All-Pro team did not differentiate between left and right tackles in the selection process during Anderson’s career. From 1996 through 2008, 15 players were named first-team All-Pro at offensive tackle. Only four were right tackles. Anderson made first-team All-Pro three times, and Erik Williams, Kyle Turley and Lincoln Kennedy made it one time apiece.

The left tackles selected as first-team All-Pro during Anderson’s career included six of the seven offensive tackles who have entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame as modern-era candidates in the past 23 classes.

Anderson hopes he can open the door to the Pro Football Hall of Fame for more right tackles, such as current Philadelphia Eagles all-star Lane Johnson.

“It would mean a lot because a lot of guys are betting on it,” Anderson said. “Lane Johnson is waiting. He tells me that every year.”

The players being enshrined on Saturday include defensive end/outside linebacker Dwight Freeney, linebacker Randy Gradishar, returner/wide receiver Devin Hester, wide receiver Andre Johnson, defensive tackle Steve McMichael, defensive end Julius Peppers and linebacker Patrick Willis.

Gradishar and McMichael were nominated were considered by the Hall of Fame’s Seniors Committee. The other five players came off the modern-era ballot, which began with 173 nominees and was trimmed to 25 semifinalists, 15 finalists and five inductees.

Eligible for the past 11 Hall of Fame classes, Anderson has nine more years that he can be considered on the modern-era ballot. If he hasn’t made the Pro Football Hall of Fame after the Class of 2033 is selected, Anderson will become eligible for consideration for nomination for the Class of 2034 by the Seniors Committee, which reviews players who haven’t played in 25 or more seasons.

“It’s a long process and being a finalist the last three years has been great,” Anderson said. “A great time going through that, but at the same time, a hard time going through it. I can’t complain about it because there’s so many guys that could be in the position more than I am, and to be that close the last three years, it’s a good feeling. But at the same time, the wait is just a hard thing that the majority of the guys have to do it, so I’m going through it and hope the best for it.”

The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 50-member Selection Committee meets annually shortly before the Super Bowl to vote on the 15 modern-era finalists, the nominees of the Seniors Committee and the coach/contributor finalist.

“Your presenter — mine is Geoff Hobson (former Cincinnati newspaper reporter who is now the senior writer for bengals.com) — has to go into the room and present for you,” Anderson said. “From that 15, each player has to get 80 percent of the vote, so it’s a hard deal because guys are in there fighting for their guys. I heard good things last time from some voters in the room that I was close. I think the whole key is to get in that seven or eight range. I heard I was in that seven or eight range, so, hopefully, next year. You never know, though.”

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.