Will Anderson Jr. NFL Draft 2023: Scouting report, prospect ranking However, there is no denying that both players are blue-chip prospects. As a run defender, Anderson has a unique style in that he attacks the offenses blocking scheme. Raiders are still the odds favorite to land Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, Nine Georgia Bulldogs football players have been arrested in the past 14 months, Five Biggest Losers from Day 1 of the NFL Scouting Combine, Five Biggest Winners from Day 1 of the NFL Scouting Combine, Florida Quarterback Anthony Richardson is absolutely crushing interviews at the NFL Scouting Combine, Bryce Young says he cannot control his size, but he can control his play. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | They understand how to set up blockers and finish. Played 600+ snaps in 2022, 2021, and 2020 seasons. The 21 year old put together one of the most astonishing seasons we have ever seen from a defender during his sophomore year. Height: 6'4. Copyright 2022 NFL Draft Diamonds. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. After bursting onto the scene in Nick Saban's defense as a true freshman in 2020, Will Anderson Jr. cemented himself in the elite class of college football talents in 2021, showing the ability to dominate off the edge against top competition. Scouting Will Anderson Jr.: What to know about Alabama edge ahead of The former Alabama linebacker recorded a strong unofficial time of 4.69 seconds at 253 pounds. The outside linebackers will join defensive linemen . It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. During the 2021 season, he was the only player who had more sacks than Aidan Hutchinson. Will Anderson Jr. from Dutchtown High School was rated a 4-star recruit by ESPN and handed a 5-star grade by 247 Sports after making 22 sacks as a senior. Youve now completed your Big Board, but if you want to save it youll need to become a TDN Premium member. Anderson has already fielded praise as one of the best prospects in a generation. It tells you everything about the competitiveness of a player. As prospects prepare to see what their future holds, they will go through the Combine and Pro Days to impress NFL scouts, coaches and execs. Anderson scouting . Continuing with his pursuit, Anderson consistently pursues to the sideline and can get his hands up to deflect passes and clog the passing lane. But its important to make no prospect untouchable. Daniel Jeremiah scouts the Oregon star and provides an eye-opening player comp. Special! He is the number one overall prospect (on average) according to ESPNs top-four pundits. He reads the run very well, showing he can disengage in a timely manner and erase lanes. And in 2021, he finished fifth in Heisman voting and took home the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, given to the nations best defensive player. His high character is merely another bonus to his exceptional portfolio. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/draft/free/stories, at #Bama edge Will Anderson's official 40 time: 4.60.
Blazin'
The potential top position player on the board. Will Anderson is a dominant defender in Alabama's 4-3 defense. First two-time Nagurski Award winner since 1996 (Best defensive player in college football), 2022: 14 sacks, 65 pressures- tied for second in the power five, 2021: 15 sacks, 82 pressures- most in FBS, Dominant as a run stopper in all 3 seasons, Run defense grades: 2022- 86.0 2021- 89.6 2020- 81.1, 53 stops in 2021 was second amongst FBS EDs. Had he been in the 2022 NFL Draft, he likely would have gone first overall. Will Anderson, Through the Lens of Our OLB Scouting Algorithm: -- Two-time Bronko Nagurski award winner, two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year, two-time consensus All-American. Will Anderson: LB, Alabama: 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report He can also take off toward the inside of the line to perform stunts and knock the interior offensive lineman off balance. Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. answers questions from the media during the NFL Scouting Combine on March 1, 2023, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN. 2023 NFL Draft prospects: Ranking top OLBs in this year's draft class His freshman year was quieter, but still impressive. With that frame, the Alabama EDGE has elite explosiveness, top-notch lateral agility, great artificial power capacity and play strength, and good bend. He's the best player in the country and I think this could be an early statement about his candidacy for the Heisman Trophy, an award that hasn't been won by a primarily defensive player since 1997. When lined up at the line, Anderson Jr. does a good job of quickly working his way toward the B gap. As we head toward the 2022 college football season, the Will Levis hype train is picking up steam. All Rights Reserved. Anderson has great contact balance on running plays, very rarely losing his center of gravity even when taking on two blockers. He can sustain acceleration while flexing his lower body and leaning into direction changes, making for dangerous closing speed in tight space. Player Bio No prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft encapsulates the definition of hometown We break down the chances that Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson is the number one Vic Tafur of The Athletic does not believe the Las Vegas Raiders and new What is going on at the University of Georgia? The Will Anderson scouting report is that he is a versatile, highly-athletic EDGE player. His hips sometimes lock up at the apex, and with his high-cut frame, he doesnt have elite bend or sinking capacity. That's not the case with Arkansas' Treylon Burks, a beastly WR who reminds Daniel Jeremiah of Titans star A.J. Looking at the details of Andersons skill set, there is an area for improvement for him as a pass rusher. He ranks in the top three in most major categories in program history. Here's a look at the Crimson Tide star. Former Alabama edge-rusher Will Anderson Jr. is considered one of the top talents in the 2023 NFL draft class, and he put his skills on display Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis . Check out the full scouting report. Here's how he fared from an advanced analytics perspective, with. Sep 3, 2022 Alabama defender Will Anderson Jr. has a chance to go down as one of the top draft prospects in recent memory. Is there anything that Will Anderson Jr. cannot do? Andersons hand usage as an edge rusher shows in his two-hand swipe, and he also prefers to use a long-arm to apply force to the offensive lineman and collapse them back into the quarterback. NFL.com analyst and former NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah takes a "first look" at some of college football's top players for 2022. EDGE, Alabama. Relentless as a pass rusher and in run game. In his 3 seasons with the Crimson Tide, he played in 39 games, starting all of them. 1 overall in consecutive drafts and Jalen Hurts selected in the second round last year. This is a player that could become the bedrock of a defense for years to come. 2022 NFL Draft Player Preview: Adam Anderson - WalterFootball.com Here, we see if he lives up to that reputation. This is due to his hands being very active during his rush which forces the lineman to consistently lose leverage. You would be hard pressed to find any ranking that lists Anderson below third. Has never given up on a play and will never give up on a play. Anderson Jr. is just as likely to overwhelm an offensive lineman with a vicious straight arm while exploding off the edge. Will Anderson Jr. is not purely a pass-rusher, although that is what he does best. Will Anderson Jr. is the premier pass-rusher we have yearned for in recent years. But it was even more distinct in 2021 when Anderson ruled the trenches to the tune of 17 1/2 sacks and 31 tackles for loss. But as a 2023 NFL Draft prospect, how does his scouting report stack up? His ceiling is, however, slightly limited by his smaller size and lack of generational athleticism. Also uses his hands well to get clean wins that lead to sacks. His pass rush ability is unlike anybody else in the nation due to his ability to effortlessly get into the backfield. The youngster is stout against the run and violent at the point of contact. Will Anderson Jr. NFL Draft Scouting Report. It's clear that any team that lands Anderson will be getting a generational talent, and he further cemented his status as a top prospect in this year's draft class with his performance Thursday. Hes always battling in tight spaces, using rapid hands to fight through congestion. Andersons entire game is tied together by his relentless, unending motor. According to ESPN, as a true freshman, he had 33 solo tackles, 7 sacks, and a forced fumble. Can be lethal when slanting with his get-off and movement skills. It also allows him to get past the tackle before they get to their set point. And when you factor in his burst, agility, strength, and other qualities, that makes him more exciting. As the penetrator, his get-off and aggressiveness at the point of attack will catch offensive linemen off guard and get them off their feet. Both of these players are explosive off the snap and play with a very high motor. I was surprised to see how comfortable Anderson was in coverage when given the opportunity to drop back. The Alabama EDGE has a strong and compact frame with good length. Does the 2023 NFL Draft scouting report of Alabama EDGE Will Anderson Jr. boast generational upside? });
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