Will Anderson is a dominant defender in Alabama's 4-3 defense. Can be lethal when slanting with his get-off and movement skills. They can also track down the ball carrier and make a tackle. Will Anderson Jr. with a 4.69u on his first run. That was evident even in 2020 when Anderson logged seven sacks and 10 1/2 tackles for loss as a true freshman. Daniel Jeremiah provides his initial scouting report, supplying a striking NFL comparison in the process. 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report - Will Anderson But in 2022 season, his numbers were down quite a bit. Finally, Anderson is a very reliable tackler in the pursuit phase. This allows offensive linemen to prepare themselves for power. This often confuses offensive linemen and gives Anderson the competitive edge to shed the block and sack the QB. After seeing what he brings to an NFL team, I strongly believe he will not fall out of the top five.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'draftdive_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_11',117,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-draftdive_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); As I have mentioned several times throughout this article, Anderson is the best prospect in this draft class. Sep 3, 2022 Alabama defender Will Anderson Jr. has a chance to go down as one of the top draft prospects in recent memory. Might struggle to get extension versus NFL offensive tackles. Check out the full scouting report. His lack of size also hinders his scheme versatility where he will likely only fit as a 3-4 weakside linebacker. He is able to record this many sacks because of his high motor and agility through traffic. By the time his high school career ended, he had 39 offers. The Detroit Lions defense gets faster and more athletic with the top corner in the draft. @AlabamaFTBL
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: Stream on NFL+ pic.twitter.com/9fc737PfB2. 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. 1 Pick, The Case for Bryce Young To Be the No. Bet $5+ on any sport pre-game ML, Get $200 If Your Bet Wins, Be the first one to comment on this story. His versatility makes him a prospect any team would want. As it stands, Anderson is considered one of the best prospects in this years class. From there, he shows off his incredible body lean to close out and apply pressure on the QB. They understand how to set up blockers and finish. His hips sometimes lock up at the apex, and with his high-cut frame, he doesnt have elite bend or sinking capacity. Scouting Notes. The biggest concern about the Alabama products pass-rush arsenal is that he hasnt shown a go-to move that he can win with on the outside. Wasnt routinely locking out tackles in college, more just getting them off his frame with enough room to shed the block. Will Anderson Jr. NFL Draft 2023: Scouting report, recruiting profile He signed with the vaunted Alabama Crimson Tide and immediately factored into the starting equation. This is when the pass rusher gets about 7-8 yards deep in the backfield often forcing the QB up in the pocket. NFL Draft Scouting Reports: The Definitive Will Anderson Jr. Scouting Will Anderson Jr. has the complete skill set to thrive off the edge. He is explosive as a looper on stunts, too. When his rush does not get home, he shows the awareness to peel off and get his hands in passing lanes. The Tide star led the FBS in tackles for loss (34.5; second-most in a single season in UA history) and sacks (17.5; third-most in UA history). It was one of the greatest seasons we have EVER seen. As a pass-rusher, Anderson is impressive with his inside countermoves. 2022 NFL season: Which fan base most deserves a Super Bowl title. Does the 2023 NFL Draft scouting report of Alabama EDGE Will Anderson Jr. boast generational upside? But it's important to make no prospect untouchable. Will Anderson Scouting Report. 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. 2023 NFL Draft scouting report: Alabama EDGE Will Anderson Jr. In a 2-point stance, he shows amazing initial quickness to run the arc and beat the opposing lineman. However, Andersons production and tape really speaks for itself. He can sustain acceleration while flexing his lower body and leaning into direction changes, making for dangerous closing speed in tight space. The Chicago Bears currently hold the No. However, I was most blown away by his performance on extra-point attempts. 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. 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report - Will Anderson. Will Anderson Jr. (31) LB - 2022 Finished his three years at UA ranked second on Alabama's career sacks list with 34.5 (-201 yards), trailing only Derrick Thomas Hed fit best as a stand-up outside linebacker in a scheme that uses a lot of odd fronts and occasionally has edge-rushers drop into coverage. His strong hands allow him to control reps, and he brings visible knock-back power at the point of attack. 2023 NFL Draft scouting report: Alabama EDGE Will Anderson Jr. Ryan Moran Jan 10, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (31) defends against Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) in the 2022 CFP college football national championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. However, there is no denying that both players are blue-chip prospects. Will Levis Scouting Report - Draft Dive | 2023 NFL Draft QB Overall, Anderson has proven to be a dominant edge player that plays with the passion and intensity wanted from a high draft pick and the character franchises want for a face-of-the-franchise player. 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 only concern that I have is his slightly below-average size and strength. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Physical at the point of attack with plenty of strength to set the edge against offensive tackles versus outside zone. Manage Settings You must be logged in to post a comment The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. All Rights Reserved. Anderson Jr. returned for a junior season that wasn't quite as dominant but impressive nonetheless. 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. 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. Has never given up on a play and will never give up on a play. Here's how he fared from an advanced analytics perspective, with. At 64, 243 pounds, Anderson isnt the hulking physical specimen that prospects like Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney proved to be. Scouting Report and Player Profile Analyst Matthew Lewis. Anderson Jr. is also good at effectively running the arc. Hes extremely active on the backside, and he can engulf runners with his brisk closing speed and wingspan. Against the run, he easily stacks single blocks and sets the edge. Anderson Jr. is a tier above even Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux from last year's batch. Daniel Jeremiah provides his initial scouting report on Bulldogs DL Jalen Carter, with a pro comp to a former top-three pick. Good on him. Scouting Will Anderson Jr.: Alabama prospect reminiscent of Von Miller Scouting Report - Draft Dive | 2023 NFL Draft LB Spotlight Will Anderson Jr. Effective on stunts as both the penetrator or looper. Not a big knock as hes simply more of a speed rusher as opposed to a power rusher. Your login session has expired. Will Anderson Jr. rarely ever comes off the field. Sign up to receive all the latest news and annoucements. So, what's the book on the Kentucky quarterback? Could Anthony Richardson go number one overall? Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images. Will Anderson Jr. is most definitely a blue chip prospect. In his collegiate career, the Hampton, Georgia, native racked up 204 tackles, 58.5 tackles for loss and 34.5 sacks, as well as an eye-popping 206 quarterback pressures. There is room for him to expand his pass rush arsenal, but all . On edge-contain plays, he shows to have great technique and functional strengthhe can properly set the edge and keep leverage by keeping his outside hand free to make a play. Tietosuojakytnnstmme ja evstekytnnstmme voit lukea lis siit, miten kytmme henkiltietojasi. Daniel Jeremiah scouts the Oregon star and provides an eye-opening player comp. Also works to get on an edge and has developed several inside countermoves off the bull rush. Will Anderson Jr. | Alabama | Scouting Report - Ourlads For his MaxPreps profile,click here. 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. Takes on blocks with low pad level and quick, accurate hands on the offensive linemans chest to gain leverage. Best part of Will Anderson's workout today was how fluid he looked dropping into coverage and redirecting. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. It was an excellent final season with the Crimson Tide. Looked very comfortable from the stand up position as a 3-4 OLB. 17 nationally, No. Below are some of the college football awards won by Will Anderson: NFL Scouting Combine Results When Anderson declares for the NFL Draft, we will post his NFL Scouting Combine on-field workout results in the table below. Will Anderson Jr. is one of the most hyped players in the 2023 NFL draft class. But on the field, Anderson is just as imposing. Solid 40 time for him but was admittedly expecting a little higher. His high character is merely another bonus to his exceptional portfolio. Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama | NFL Draft Scouting Report This is the second entry in a series of scouting reports that will run throughout July. IOS / Android | Apparel. It also allows him to get past the tackle before they get to their set point. Lastly, Anderson sometimes sacrifices leverage trying to stonewall blockers with sheer momentum, using his frame as a projectile. #Bama edge Will Anderson's official 40 time: 4.60.
Blazin'
The potential top position player on the board. https://t.co/w5apPmwOoW, The only good comp: pic.twitter.com/3hqOCAk4XZ. With that being said, there are not many weaknesses to his game. 1 overall in consecutive drafts and Jalen Hurts selected in the second round last year. He is good at clogging lanes at the line, not allowing the running back to gain positive yardage. Will Anderson Jr. Draft Profile 2023 | NFL Mock Draft Database DraftDive is a trusted source for draft information and predictions. #DrTeals #ad 0:16 13.2K views 17 38 Anderson has been hailed by many as the best prospect in this draft class, and he's someone who's a disruptive pass . I was surprised to see how comfortable Anderson was in coverage when given the opportunity to drop back. Having worked with one of Bill Belichick's top scouts, I know the importance the Patriots head coach places on that play. Will Anderson Jr. is a direct replica of Von Miller. Anderson is a menace in pursuit. Scouting Report- January 6 | 2023 NFL Draft By Ryan Broyles Modified 07 Jan 2023 Follow Us Share Is Will Anderson Jr. the top. Kun kytt sivustojamme ja sovelluksiamme, kytmme, tarjotaksemme sivustomme ja sovelluksemme sinulle, todentaaksemme kyttjt, estksemme roskapostia ja vrinkytksi sek toteuttaaksemme tietoturvatoimia. Anderson was a four-star recruit at defensive end coming out of the state of Georgia in high school. After being this productive for one of the best college football programs, it is safe to say he is an elite talent. Will Anderson Jr. NFL Draft 2023: Scouting report, prospect ranking Surprisingly strong for his size. He can run and mirror tight ends in the middle of the field. Will Anderson: Scouting Report. Everything You Need To Know He has been elite for Alabama since he first stepped foot on the field. Will Anderson Jr. is not purely a pass-rusher, although that is what he does best. He is currently the second overall prospect on Mel Kiper Jr.s big board and the third overall prospect on PFFs. Led by T.J. McCreight, The 33rd Team Scouting Department has been hard at work evaluating the top prospects in this . Excellent change of direction for a defensive lineman to test offensive linemens ability to redirect and consistently win with inside pass-rush moves. Anderson definitely deserved all that in 2021. This is a player that could become the bedrock of a defense for years to come. 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. 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! Daniel Jeremiah scouts the Flames' star and sees shades of three different NFL signal-callers in his game, including the Eagles' Jalen Hurts. If he were draft-eligible, he would have been the #1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. It's rare to find a player with his combination of talent and intangibles. His ceiling is, however, slightly limited by his smaller size and lack of generational athleticism. NFL Draft evaluators have been aware of his talent ever since he first stepped foot on a college football field. 1 WDE, per 247Sports' composite rankings, 2021 Honors: Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner (CFBs top defensive player), unanimous first-team All-American, SEC Defensive Player of the Year, 2020 Honors: FWAA Freshman of the Year, Freshman All-American, SEC All-Freshman team. But as a 2023 NFL Draft prospect, how does his scouting report stack up? Anderson ended up finishing third in the SEC with 7.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss to go with 52 tackles and a team-high eight quarterback pressures. Hes able to use his finesse and lateral suddenness to scrape by moving blocks. I have to admit, though, my study provided a very clear answer to the question of whether he's worthy of the buzz. It's the adjective that swamps his evaluation when asked about Montana State do-it-all prospect Troy Andersen. Also uses his hands well to get clean wins that lead to sacks. OLB | JR | Alabama. 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Will Anderson Jr., Edge, University of Alabama by Evan Bachman January 21, 2023 Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. is a blue chip prospect in the 2023 NFL draft. Looking at the details of Andersons skill set, there is an area for improvement for him as a pass rusher. Will Anderson Jr. at 2023 NFL Combine: Measurements, Highlights and I realize this is high praise but I got the same vibe watching Anderson that I did when I studied Miller coming out of Texas A&M in 2011. He also has an effective bull rush that hell use to set up those inside countermoves and allows him to be effective when turning speed to power. Will Anderson says it would "mean a lot" to go No. 1 overall to the In 2020 as a freshman Anderson Jr. saw action in 13 games and played a total of 646 snaps for the Crimson Tide. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Scouting Report 0 Alabama Crimson Tide Linebacker USFL Draft 2023 Standouts Chase Brown Scouting Report Evan Hull Scouting Report: Is he the next Christian McCaffrey? There is big-time buzz about Ohio State's C.J. He's as polished and explosive as any pass rusher I've ever evaluated. Prolific looping around the middle on stunts due to his speed/burst. Here, we see if he lives up to that reputation. What I liked: I'm tempted to say everything. The atmosphere will be electric and I'm expecting Anderson to more than meet the moment. He's a two-time unanimous All-American, two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year and two-time Nagurski Trophy winner, given to the nation's best defender. School: Alabama. Main Photo: Gary Cosby Jr. USA Today Sports. High school:Dutchtown (Hampton, Georgia)Class:2020Composite Rating: (0.9913), High school accolades:"Super 11" team and first-team All-State (Atlanta Journal-Constitution), All-American Bowl selection. In his impressive 2021 season, Anderson secured 101 tackles, 31 for loss and a whopping 17.5 sacks in 15 games. His numbers and measurements were similar to some talented edge-rushers: Will Anderson Jr. official 40 time: 4.60s#RatedRookie | #NFLDraft, Quite the comparison for @AlabamaFTBL's Will Anderson Jr.
: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
: Stream on NFL+ pic.twitter.com/iinycEr6E4, Khalil Mack Combine
6'2 5/8, 251
33 1/4 arm
10 1/4 hand
40: 4.65
Split: 1.64
DeMarcus Ware Combine:
6'4, 251
33 1/4 arm
10 hand
40: 4.69
Split: 1.68
Will Anderson Combine:
6'3 1/2, 253
33 7/8 arm
9 7/8 hand
40: 4.69u
Split: 1.61u. Scouting report "Anderson has little weakness. . On top of all this, Anderson has a degree of bend capacity as well. Teams will sometimes purposely leave him unblocked on runs to the other side, but he has the speed to track ball carriers down. Anderson burst onto the scene in 2020. He has a very quick first step which allows him to gain leverage immediately after the snap. 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. In the ever-important 40-yard dash, Anderson ran an unofficial 4.69 in his first attempt, which was a solid time for a player of his size. In his 3 seasons with the Crimson Tide, he played in 39 games, starting all of them. They are devastating on the backside versus the run and they play with excellent effort. The belief is Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. could be that guy. I have been seeing a lot of analysts an sites start to drop anderson a bit in rankings and on mock drafts. kehittksemme ja parantaaksemme palveluitamme sek tuotteitamme. Anderson is very explosive in short ranges. He can then use his violent hands to disengage from the block and make a play on the QB. There is room for him to expand his pass rush arsenal, but all . Pass rush and counter moves are unreal, it's a truly unstoppable arsenal. Can the talented LSU cornerback live up to the hype? Many view him as the best player in the draft that is not a quarterback. Will Anderson Jr. in Mock Drafts. Latest on Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Will Anderson Jr. including complete game-by-game stats on ESPN Copyright 2019-2023. Ht: 6036 | Wt: 243 | Upd: 02/15/2023. Pete Golding weighs in on what makes Will Anderson Jr. so special He is an athletic, explosive disruptor who has exceedingly rare talents. The power from his lower trunk/ upper legs is undeniable. Below is a comprehensive draft profile for Anderson, including his scouting report, prospect ranking, pro comparison, combine results, college and high school accolades and overall NFL outlook. Additionally, his motor shows up on the chase as well. After high school, Anderson Jr. joined Alabama after being heavily recruited. Over the past few seasons, Anderson Jr. has been one of the nation's best pass rushers. 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. In 1-on-1 situations, he can set up tackles with rushing angles, then capitalize on displacement and multitask around the apex. Doesn't have a go-to outside move that he consistently wins with, and lacks top-tier bend to turn a tight corner at the top of outside rushes. In the last two seasons for the. });
, if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'nfldraftdiamonds_com-large-billboard-2','ezslot_34',138,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-nfldraftdiamonds_com-large-billboard-2-0');report this ad. Anderson was a top recruit coming out of high school, but he has had a hard time taking on a large role for the Bulldogs, who have been loaded at the position and utlizing a steady rotation. Entering his junior season, the hype surrounding Anderson is through the roof, as you might expect for such a highly decorated performer returning to one of CFB's powerhouse programs. . The best way to describe Will Anderson Jr.'s college tape is that everything just looked easy for him. 1 overall pick, but we could see several first-round picks traded as teams look to move up and take advantage of the talent at the top of this year's draft class. In Anderson, there is the marriage of elite physical talent and elite want-to. 13 G, 51 TOT, 17 TFL, 10 SK, 1 INT, 2 PD, A 5-star recruit in the 2020 class, No. Both guys have very long arms. Will Anderson Jr. was one of the best defensive players in college football over the last decade. It tells you everything about the competitiveness of a player. 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 . 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? In 2021, as a sophomore, he led the nation in sacks (17.5) and tackles for loss (34.5) in winning the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. 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. Alabama ran him on a ton of stunts up front, with him exploding around the corner, attacking the opposition's QB. Weight: 243 lbs. During his first on-field drill, Anderson stumbled a bit early on and looked a bit slow. Its hard to say from humble beginnings with Anderson because, in truth, hes always been at the forefront of the football landscape. His balance and leverage stand out as particular strong points. Watch the full on-field workout from Alabama Crimson Tide EDGE Will Anderson Jr. at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. Note: This profile will be updated as more information becomes available. Big selling point to his game as he can play at a high level across a lot of snaps. Has shown solid hand-swipe and arm-over moves to win on the outside that he can develop in the pros. 17 overall prospect in the 2020 class, Anderson received 39 offers coming out of high school. Manage Settings Continue with Recommended Cookies, Will Anderson Jr. Daniel Jeremiah reveals his initial scouting report. 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. Right now, offensive linemen take an inside leverage approach to Anderson and force him to play through their frame. Seven-round NFL mock draft, Round 1: Building a win-now team from active players for 2022 season, Baker Mayfield, first pick of 2018 NFL Draft, traded: Ranking the top five classes from that year. After giving up a touchdown, you often see defensive players give marginal effort on extra-point tries. 2023 NFL Mock Draft 3.1: Post-Super Bowl Picks; Shocking Justin Fields Anderson can also improve his timing and spatial awareness. Anderson finished his career with 34.5 sacks and 62 tackles for loss, trailing only Derrick Thomas in school history. Anderson has long arms and he keeps opponents away from his chest. He was also named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year twice (2021, 2022), is a two-time unanimous All-American, two-time First-Team All-SEC and was named to the Second-Team All-SEC his freshman year. He has enough ankle flexion to pinch tight angles around blockers when stunting.