His best season came in 2021 -- when he led the nation with 34.5 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks en route to finishing fifth in Heisman Trophy voting -- but he was dominant throughout his time in Tuscaloosa. Takes on blocks with low pad level and quick, accurate hands on the offensive linemans chest to gain leverage. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. In the last two seasons for the. Scouting Report: Alabama Crimson Tide, Linebacker, #31. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'draftdive_com-box-4','ezslot_9',112,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-draftdive_com-box-4-0'); Will Anderson Jr. 40-Time 4.55-4.60 range. Height: 6-4 Though he is considered to be an edge-rusher, Anderson participated in drills with the linebackers group rather than the defensive linemen. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Between Anderson and Jalen Carter, draft evaluators have a split between who is 1a and who is 1b. We don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but there aren't many weaknesses in Will Anderson's game. 1 overall player in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Detroit Lions defense gets faster and more athletic with the top corner in the draft. Will Anderson Jr. rarely ever comes off the field. He ranks in the top three in most major categories in program history. They are devastating on the backside versus the run and they play with excellent effort. What I liked: I'm tempted to say everything. As a pass-rusher, Anderson is impressive with his inside countermoves. I saw him get sealed by down blocks when tightly aligned a few times. EDGE, Alabama. 2021: 873 snaps in 15 games- tied for first amongst EDs in FBS. Helps him a lot in pursuit. 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. Click Here To Find Out How To Test. Copyright 2022 NFL Draft Diamonds. . From there, he shows off his incredible body lean to close out and apply pressure on the QB. mitataksemme sivustojemme ja sovellustemme kyttsi. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/draft/free/stories, at Jake Haener Scouting Report . I am also impressed with his ability to fight away an offensive linemans hands. He can then use his violent hands to disengage from the block and make a play on the QB. Has never given up on a play and will never give up on a play. The 21-year-old has very good speed and power, has refined pass-rush moves, shows excellent hustle and is happy to run sideline-to-sideline. 6. When his rush does not get home, he shows the awareness to peel off and get his hands in passing lanes. Also works to get on an edge and has developed several inside countermoves off the bull rush. But its important to make no prospect untouchable. Everything you need to know about Alabama EDGE and 2023 NFL Draft prospect Will Anderson Jr. One analyst Daniel Kelly even called him lazy. cnx.cmd.push(function() {
Manage Settings There is big-time buzz about Ohio State's C.J. Position: Edge Both guys have very long arms. By his sophomore season, Anderson had become the leader of the Crimson Tide defense. Will Anderson Jr. in Mock Drafts. While Anderson led the nation with 17.5 sacks in 2021, he's probably an even better run defender. Will Anderson just performed his first 40-yard dash attempt at the NFL Scouting Combine. We have seen what type of impact they can have at the NFL level. As the looper, his change of direction and agility allow him to move laterally without losing ground, and he has the acceleration to win and close on the quarterback. Derek Stingley Jr. heads into the 2021 season as one of the most hyped prospects in college football. Will Anderson Jr. is a direct replica of Von Miller. He is a strong power pass-rusher and excellent against the run. He has a brutal forklift move and can also win with rips, swims, swipes, and cross-chops. While Anderson may go on to be one of the best EDGE prospects over the past few cycles, he falls a bit short of the generational label. Anderson is far from a liability with his size. Will Anderson Scouting Report. This is a player that could become the bedrock of a defense for years to come. But as a 2023 NFL Draft prospect, how does his scouting report stack up? Will Anderson Jr. has been one of the most recognizable and decorated defensive prospects of this era. At 64, 243 pounds, Anderson isnt the hulking physical specimen that prospects like Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney proved to be. The former Alabama linebacker recorded a strong unofficial time of 4.69 seconds at 253 pounds. Recognizes blocking schemes well to put himself in a good position to take on blocksi.e., working wide versus reaches or shooting his hands to play the cut. Many view him as the best player in the draft that is not a quarterback. Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama) Scouting Report - NFL Draft Prospect Grade - 2023 NFL DRAFT TOP PICK? 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report - Will Anderson. He consistently seeks to replace hands and re-exert power when anchored and can accomplish this with his torque and explosion. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. He is good at clogging lanes at the line, not allowing the running back to gain positive yardage. Will Anderson Jr. is a twitchy athlete off the edge, exploding with agility that many offensive linemen cannot handle. In 2022, Anderson played in 13 games, amassing 51 tackles, 17 for loss, 10 sacks, one interception and one touchdown. The Minnesota Vikings are currently at the NFL Scouting Combine looking to find the next future stars to wear the purple and gold. Not a necessity to become an elite edge rusher but its nice to have as many tools in the tool box as possible. No rookie is cant-miss but Anderson is very close. Daniel Jeremiah provides his initial scouting report on Bulldogs DL Jalen Carter, with a pro comp to a former top-three pick. Here's a comprehensive look at all those factors. Powerful for his size as a bull-rusher to put offensive tackles on skates. He can also take off toward the inside of the line to perform stunts and knock the interior offensive lineman off balance. When in the phone booth, he needs to work on his ability to shed blocks by using his strength. It's almost comical what he does to tight ends and running backs when they draw the unfortunate assignment to block him. Kun kytt sivustojamme ja sovelluksiamme, kytmme, tarjotaksemme sivustomme ja sovelluksemme sinulle, todentaaksemme kyttjt, estksemme roskapostia ja vrinkytksi sek toteuttaaksemme tietoturvatoimia. Will Anderson Jr. is one of the most hyped players in the 2023 NFL draft class. 2023 NFL Draft Measurements. As a pass rusher, he has a dynamic first step. Most believe it will be the latter, but nobody can say for sure. (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=67822575-a4f4-4fe4-9ca3-7a0abddbdd6f&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "67822575-a4f4-4fe4-9ca3-7a0abddbdd6f" }).render("3041736b0f044fda91b1005ee0ab4330"); }); if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'nfldraftdiamonds_com-box-1','ezslot_4',139,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-nfldraftdiamonds_com-box-1-0');report this ad,
Will Anderson Jr. is a menace off the edges. Youve now completed your Big Board, but if you want to save it youll need to become a TDN Premium member. According to ESPN, as a true freshman, he had 33 solo tackles, 7 sacks, and a forced fumble. Anderson was a standout performer for the Crimson Tide during his three seasons, establishing himself among the long line of great defensive linemen to play under legendary head coach Nick Saban. The 2023 NFL Draft will run from April 27 to 29 in Kansas City, Missouri. And, the good news for him is that Anderson isn't eligible for the 2022 NFL. DraftDive is a trusted source for draft information and predictions. 1 overall pass-rusher. 7:23 pm ET, NFL combine 2023: Winners and losers from DB workouts, WR Jordan Addison tells Steelers to 'come get me', TCU's Johnston hopeful to surprise at NFL combine, Cunningham on USFL talk: I'm not playing in that, NFL Draft 2023: Former NFL GM on pro comps for WR, TE, Levis wants to show off his 'cannon' at NFL combine, Will Anderson Jr. NFL Draft profile, scouting report, Picks for Saturday's top college basketball games, Ex-Patriots star McGinest facing 8 years in prison, Celtics booed off floor after blowing 28-point lead to Nets, LSU responds after Dunne promotes AI homework tool, Big 12 contacts four Pac-12 schools on potential move, NFL combine 2023 results tracker: Top performances, First-step quickness and bend around the edge flashes play after play, Surprising power and the ability to win consistently with hands on his way to the QB, Comparable to Von Miller in size and twitch; both are around 6-3, 245, which is undersized by NFL edge rusher standards, but they play much bigger than that, Made some business decisions in 2022, though it's hard to blame him -- he still played through Alabama's bowl game, Can sometimes whiff on arm tackles in space- Sometimes there doesn't have to be something wrong with a player -- with Anderson it feels like you're searching for issues that don't really exist, Career: Two-time Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner -- only second player to do so in award's history, Career: Two-time Unanimous first-team All-American, Career: Two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year, 2020: National Freshman of the Year (Football Writers Association of America), 2020: Freshman All-America (FWAA, 247Sports and The Athletic), 2020: Second-team All-SEC (Associated Press), Career: Second in program history in tackles for loss (62) and sacks (34.5) -- trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famer Derrick Thomas in both categories, 2021: Led FBS with 34.5 tackles for loss (second in school history), 2021: Led FBS with 17.5 sacks (third in school history), 2021: Five-time SEC Defensive Player of the Week. Texas is starting to build some buzz and is loaded with offensive skill-position talent. 2) After dominating collegiate athletes for two seasons, it is possible that Will Anderson Jr. got bored. Will Anderson Jr. | 31. Will Anderson Jr. was one of the best defensive players in college football over the last decade. If he were draft-eligible, he would have been the #1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. In 2021, Will was an absolute wrecking ball with 101 tackles and 17.5 sacks. Mock Draft Machine Beta Testing Has Begun! Where does Anderson win, where can he improve, and where might he be limited? Some notable players he was ranked above include Myles Murphy, Broderick Jones, Brian Branch, and Jahmyr Gibbs. Heres a comprehensive look at all those factors. In his 3 seasons with the Crimson Tide, he played in 39 games, starting all of them. Scouting report "Anderson has little weakness. Anderson has elite production, to the level where him failing almost seems impossible. Anderson Jr. is also good at effectively running the arc. Scouting Report Following three highly successful years at Alabama, Will Anderson Jr. enters the 2023 NFL Draft aged 21. . Copyright 2019-2023. A talent with All-America honors on both sides of the football, he's a one-of-one in this year's draft class. This allows him to sack the QB or force them outside of the pocket. 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 . The youngster is stout against the run and violent at the point of contact. But on the field, Anderson is just as imposing. }).render("bb96ad3fa3274bd9b3b8932a057f1f33");
DraftDive is a trusted source for draft information and predictions. I strongly encourage everyone to watch that video as it allows you to visualize everything I discuss in this scouting report. With that being said, there are not many weaknesses to his game. For his MaxPreps profile,click here. Anderson (scouting report) will put pressure on the NFC West quarterbacks for several years. With his high pedigree and gargantuan size, Evan Neal certainly has the NFL's attention. He held his own when Alabama asked him to do the latter, which suggests he can be asked to zone-drop in the NFL as a change of pace. Can the talented LSU cornerback live up to the hype? It's the adjective that swamps his evaluation when asked about Montana State do-it-all prospect Troy Andersen. Here we have Alabama Crimson Tide Edge Rusher Will Anderson, who could be a Super Star in the making! Scouting report "Anderson has little weakness. His lack of size also hinders his scheme versatility where he will likely only fit as a 3-4 weakside linebacker. Will Anderson Jr. with a 4.69u on his first run. During his career at Alabama, Anderson has been named a two-time All-American, a two-time Nagurski Award winner, and a Bednarik Award winner. He is explosive as a looper on stunts, too. Georgia just had five defensive players taken in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, but is the best NFL prospect of all still in Athens? Relentless as a pass rusher and in run game. 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. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Hes extremely active on the backside, and he can engulf runners with his brisk closing speed and wingspan. His strong hands allow him to control reps, and he brings visible knock-back power at the point of attack. He has a strong lower body to hold his ground in the run game and great speed around the edge to apply pressure on the quarterback. 1 Pick. When he is put in a position to take a traditional pass-rush track on the outside edge of the tackle, he has an explosive first step and his functional strength shows when he can convert speed to power to get to the quarterback. That last drill was the one I felt Will Anderson Jr's power through the television--rushing the curve to his right. It tells you everything about the competitiveness of a player. The belief is Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. could be that guy. On pulling plays, Anderson attacks upfield to meet the offensive lineman and delivers a high-impact collision to disrupt the structure of the blocking scheme and it often results in a tackle for loss for Anderson or a teammate. He had 57 solo tackles, 17.5 sacks, and 2 pass deflections. Some naysayers point to the drop in production in 2022, to which we would say two things: 1) There was no way he could replicate the 2021 season. At 6-4, 245 pounds, linebacker Will . After reviewing the game tape, Daniel Jeremiah provides his initial scouting report on the hyped Alabama offensive tackle. It wouldn't be too far-fetched to say Anderson is a more violent player too. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Login. Will Anderson Jr. is the premier pass-rusher we have yearned for in recent years. Anderson scouting . We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. All Rights Reserved. When his rush does not get home, he shows the awareness to peel off and get his hands in passing lanes. Anderson Jr. is just as likely to overwhelm an offensive lineman with a vicious straight arm while exploding off the edge. Prolific looping around the middle on stunts due to his speed/burst. Gains ground laterally and vertically with his L-step and can get penetration easily. After being this productive for one of the best college football programs, it is safe to say he is an elite talent. That was evident even in 2020 when Anderson logged seven sacks and 10 1/2 tackles for loss as a true freshman. He doesn't have wow chase speed deep down the field but he is excellent in short areas (SEE: Anderson's quick redirect and tackle against electric Georgia RB James Cook early in the second quarter of the national title game). The Alabama EDGE can target and negate extensions with precise hands, and he can use brutal swipes to keep himself clean in congestion. Please take a look and let us know what you think. Going further, Andersons hand usage is advanced for his age. His 83.6 PFF grade tells the story. This will present a wider area for offensive linemen to have to block and present better angles for Anderson to get to the quarterback. 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. 1 overall in consecutive drafts and Jalen Hurts selected in the second round last year. Your login session has expired. The 2023 NFL Combine will be held from Thursday, March 2 to Sunday, March 5. Much like how he profiles as a run defender, Anderson also wins in the same ways as a pass rusher. It also allows him to get past the tackle before they get to their set point. Anderson definitely deserved all that in 2021. Will Anderson with a 4.69 40-yard dash with a 1.61 10-yard split.

Very good initial burst off the line of scrimmage shows in that 10-yard split. You must be logged in to post a comment In 2020 as a freshman Anderson Jr. saw action in 13 games and played a total of 646 snaps for the Crimson Tide. Looking at the details of Andersons skill set, there is an area for improvement for him as a pass rusher. Also uses his hands well to get clean wins that lead to sacks. Scouting Report - Draft Dive | 2023 NFL Draft LB Spotlight Will Anderson Jr. This year's draft clearly goes through Chicago, and in this mock, the Indianapolis Colts fresh off their hiring of coach Shane Steichen make a blockbuster trade with the Bears to land their future franchise quarterback. Will Anderson Jr. is most definitely a blue chip prospect. Scouting report "Anderson has little weakness. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. 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. The only concern that I have is his slightly below-average size and strength. He has a very quick first step which allows him to gain leverage immediately after the snap. Smart as a pass rusher, has a very good understanding of how to leverage his quickness to his advantage. Teams will sometimes purposely leave him unblocked on runs to the other side, but he has the speed to track ball carriers down. However, I was most blown away by his performance on extra-point attempts. He is interested in the NFL, association football, NBA and field hockey but is keen to learn about other sports too. Tietosuojakytnnstmme ja evstekytnnstmme voit lukea lis siit, miten kytmme henkiltietojasi. Could Anthony Richardson go number one overall? Will Anderson Jr. scouting report Anderson has elite production, to the level where him failing almost seems impossible. All Rights Reserved. NFL+ gives you the freedom to watch LIVE out-of-market preseason games, LIVE local and primetime regular season and postseason games on your phone or tablet, the best NFL programming on-demand, and MORE! During his career at Alabama, Anderson has been named a two-time All-American, a two-time Nagurski Award winner, and a Bednarik Award winner. His versatility makes him a prospect any team would want. Personally, I believe that Anderson is the best prospect in this draft class. Moreover, he can sustain leg drive on power rushes and drive generated power forward. Had he been in the 2022 NFL Draft, he likely would have gone first overall. With his hands, Anderson sometimes fails to drive power directly, losing coordination and control at impact. Andersons frame is lighter than average, and while he has good strength for his frame, he can sometimes be locked up in 1-on-1 situations. However, there is no denying that both players are blue-chip prospects. 17 Natl No. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'draftdive_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_8',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-draftdive_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); Anderson Jr. is the most polished prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft class. Anderson, despite being the most talented player in college football, plays harder than anyone else on the field during what some would consider a meaningless snap. Missed 14 tackles in 2022- 27.5% of his tackle attempts, Tackling grades at Bama- 2022: 46.6, 2021: 71.4, 2020: 64.0. We'll. That's not the case with Arkansas' Treylon Burks, a beastly WR who reminds Daniel Jeremiah of Titans star A.J. I have to admit, though, my study provided a very clear answer to the question of whether he's worthy of the buzz. And he can flip his hips in tight spaces, making it easier to clog lanes in run defense. The latter is more that he just lacks the elite bend that one might expect from a potential No. Will Anderson Jr. has been one of the most productive EDGE rushers in the nation since he arrived in Tuscaloosa. This combined with excellent instincts leads to him putting himself in very good positions to make plays in the run game.