Pass rush and counter moves are unreal, it's a truly unstoppable arsenal. DraftDive is a trusted source for draft information and predictions. Scouting Report by Jonathan Givony. Either they will take something #1 overall or trade the pick. He is a strong power pass-rusher and excellent against the run. When looping from an outside gap to an interior, Anderson accelerates around the corner and has power and speed that can be too much for offensive linemen to stop. He routinely plays to the whistle with elite energy and effort. At 6-foot-4, 243 pounds its hard to see him winning consistently with a bull rush against NFL tackles. Will Anderson has an imposing frame at 6-foot-4, 240lbs. There is room for him to expand his pass rush arsenal, but all . Daniel Jeremiah provides his initial scouting report on the Crimson Tide quarterback after studying his game tape. While Anderson led the nation with 17.5 sacks in 2021, he's probably an even better run defender. 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 | 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. Not only is Anderson explosive vertically, but hes also extremely explosive laterally. 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? Hes able to use his finesse and lateral suddenness to scrape by moving blocks. 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. 2021: 873 snaps in 15 games- tied for first amongst EDs in FBS. 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). 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. Here's a look at the Crimson Tide star. In 2022, Anderson played in 13 games, amassing 51 tackles, 17 for loss, 10 sacks, one interception and one touchdown. With his hands, Anderson sometimes fails to drive power directly, losing coordination and control at impact. Here's a comprehensive look at all those factors. 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. USFL Draft 2023 Standouts February 21, 2023 . NFL Mock Drafts: 2022 NFL Mock Draft 2023 NFL Mock Draft NFL Mock Draft Database Also, check out our: Fantasy Football Rankings With his high pedigree and gargantuan size, Evan Neal certainly has the NFL's attention. In the last two seasons for the Crimson Tide, he had 98 hurries and 29 sacks, and those numbers underscore how dominant he was, at times. Will Anderson Jr. C.J. Anderson has great acceleration to get past offensive linemen and close to the quarterback. He can sustain acceleration while flexing his lower body and leaning into direction changes, making for dangerous closing speed in tight space. Will Levis Scouting Report. Please logout and login again. Some notable players he was ranked above include Myles Murphy, Broderick Jones, Brian Branch, and Jahmyr Gibbs. Could afford to add weight to maintain his physical playing style in the NFL. Ultimate Scouting 128 subscribers Subscribe 1 No views 1 minute ago Thanks so much for checking out my Will Anderson. 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 . Reminder to everyone that the 1.61 split is the important part for Will Anderson, not the 4.69 (which is still okay at 250+). The Alabama EDGE has a strong and compact frame with good length. I have to admit, though, my study provided a very clear answer to the question of whether he's worthy of the buzz. Login. When lined up at the line, Anderson Jr. does a good job of quickly working his way toward the B gap. February 7, 2023 Jack Brentnall NFL Draft, Scouting Reports. Will Anderson Scouting Report By Charlie Campbell Strengths: Dangerous edge pass-rusher Tremendous instincts Uses instincts to outsmart blockers Advanced vision Quality get-off Has some pass-rushing moves Excellent pursuit defender Consistent source of pass pressure Coverts speed to power Assignment sound Disruptive You must be logged in to post a comment This is a player that could become the bedrock of a defense for years to come. At 64, 243 pounds, Anderson isnt the hulking physical specimen that prospects like Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney proved to be. Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama) Scouting Report - NFL Draft Prospect Grade - 2023 NFL DRAFT TOP PICK? 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. He checks every box. He took over the starting JACK linebacker position from Day 1 of the 2020 season and. They understand how to set up blockers and finish. Not only does Anderson hit with force, but he can also generate excellent upper-body torque and use it to violently wrench down blocks when latched. Can Spencer Rattler reach the heights of his OU predecessors? On high-percentage passing downs, Alabama utilizes him on twists and stunts which makes it difficult for offensive lines to key in on him and potentially double-team him. Will Matt Corral follow a Zach Wilson-like trajectory to the next level? Hes hard to move one-on-one with his strength and leverage at the point of attack, and he has little to no issues getting off blocks with his excellent hand placement. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/draft/free/stories, at Effort rusher who will get coverage sacks. Stroud after his sensational first season as the Buckeyes' starter. 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. He reads the run very well, showing he can disengage in a timely manner and erase lanes. He also does not have a very powerful punch that forces the offensive lineman to drop the anchor. Most believe it will be the latter, but nobody can say for sure. His freshman year was quieter, but still impressive. He generates excellent burst on his first step and accelerates instantly when keying on plays. Surprisingly strong for his size. He ranks in the top three in most major categories in program history. 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. During the 2021 season, Anderson Jr. was arguably the most polished pass rusher in the nation. 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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. Had he been in the 2022 NFL Draft, he likely would have gone first overall. Statistically, Anderson matches Thibodeaux in just 20 games: 110 tackles, 29.5 for loss and 18 sacks. This will present a wider area for offensive linemen to have to block and present better angles for Anderson to get to the quarterback. Will Anderson Jr. Where he needs to improve: There isn't much to mention here. Excellent change of direction for a defensive lineman to test offensive linemens ability to redirect and consistently win with inside pass-rush moves. Hes always battling in tight spaces, using rapid hands to fight through congestion. Your login session has expired. Copyright 2019-2023. Anderson was a top-50 prospect on ESPNs board in the 2020 recruiting class after racking up 22 sacks as a high school senior. Scouting report "Anderson has little weakness. 17 overall prospect in the 2020 class, Anderson received 39 offers coming out of high school. He is the number one overall prospect (on average) according to ESPNs top-four pundits. EDGE, Alabama. Pro Football Focus: DT Jalen. Gap-disciplined, wont leave his assignment until the running back commits. It's almost comical what he does to tight ends and running backs when they draw the unfortunate assignment to block him. Anderson burst onto the scene in 2020. He managed 52 tackles, 10.5 for loss, seven sacks and one forced fumble through 13 games that year. He's as polished and explosive as any pass rusher I've ever evaluated. The 2023 NFL Combine will be held from Thursday, March 2 to Sunday, March 5. Heres a comprehensive look at all those factors. Finally, Anderson is a very reliable tackler in the pursuit phase. There is room for him to expand his pass rush arsenal, but all . Anderson Jr. is a tier above even Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux from last year's batch. Likes to lunge and leave his feet to make tackles, leading to a high rate of missed tackles. NFL Draft evaluators have been aware of his talent ever since he first stepped foot on a college football field. He consistently wraps up and has the strength to make solo tackles. Lastly, Anderson sometimes sacrifices leverage trying to stonewall blockers with sheer momentum, using his frame as a projectile. Main Photo: Gary Cosby Jr. USA Today Sports. 13 G, 51 TOT, 17 TFL, 10 SK, 1 INT, 2 PD, A 5-star recruit in the 2020 class, No. In 2022, Anderson played in 13 games, amassing 51 tackles, 17 for loss, 10 sacks, one interception and one touchdown. For his efforts, Anderson was awarded the Chuck Bednarik Award (2022), the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (2021, 2022), the Lott Trophy (2022). Pro Football Network, LLC. Is there anything that Will Anderson Jr. cannot do? And when you factor in his burst, agility, strength, and other qualities, that makes him more exciting. Not here. It was one of the greatest seasons we have EVER seen. He can traverse entire gaps with immediacy, and he has the elite lateral agility to stunt gaps and sustain acceleration while testing angles. His lack of size also hinders his scheme versatility where he will likely only fit as a 3-4 weakside linebacker. Ideal Role: Starting stand-up edge defender, TDN Consensus Grade: 92.50/100 (First-Round Value), Exposures: LSU (2022), Auburn (2022), Texas (2022), Tennessee (2022), Texas A&M (2022), Georgia CC (2021), Georgia NC (2021). The fact of the matter is that Anderson is probably one of the top two players in this draft class.