The 21 year old put together one of the most astonishing seasons we have ever seen from a defender during his sophomore year. His high character is merely another bonus to his exceptional portfolio. A five-star prospect out of Dutchtown High School in Georgia, Anderson immediately became a force along Alabama's defensive line. The only question is whether Will Anderson Jr. be the #1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. When he's aligned on the inside shoulder of the tackle, he wins with quickness to slip blocks and create havoc. Is he still the best player in the draft? 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. It tells you everything about the competitiveness of a player. 1 Pick, The Case for Will Levis To Be the No. It also stops them from getting their hands in the right position to neutralize Anderson Jr. Not only is Anderson explosive vertically, but hes also extremely explosive laterally. Daniel Jeremiah scouts the Flames' star and sees shades of three different NFL signal-callers in his game, including the Eagles' Jalen Hurts. I soak in Dr Teal's Epsom Salts to help speed up my recovery time & recharge my sore muscles all season. Hes always battling in tight spaces, using rapid hands to fight through congestion. Check out the full scouting report. Get our free mobile app });
, 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. 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. I asked a source at Alabama about his character and he told me, "That's the best thing about him." 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. Will Anderson Jr. in Mock Drafts. 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report - Will Anderson. Andersons agility allows him to work back inside and make a play on the QB in congested areas. 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. 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. Scouting report "Anderson has little weakness. Scouting report A five-star from outside Atlanta, Will Anderson Jr. has been as good as -- and maybe better than -- advertised since arriving in Tuscaloosa. Will Anderson has an imposing frame at 6-foot-4, 240lbs. He is easily amongst the best players in this class as he projects to develop into an elite edge rusher in the NFL. 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? To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. 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. Will Anderson Jr. played for Alabama during his freshman season and dominated from the start. I love it when we get to see big non-conference matchups. 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. Latest on Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Will Anderson Jr. including complete game-by-game stats on ESPN This page is intended to provide links to Ourlads' Draft . Manage Settings Having said this, Anderson is still a phenomenal prospect who very well could have competed for the EDGE1 mantle in the 2022 NFL Draft. NFL Draft evaluators have been aware of his talent ever since he first stepped foot on a college football field. The outside linebackers will join defensive linemen . Moreover, Anderson is an energetic, amped-up mover for his size, traversing congested areas with effervescent twitch. Solid 40 time for him but was admittedly expecting a little higher. Physical at the point of attack with plenty of strength to set the edge against offensive tackles versus outside zone. 2023 NFL Draft: Will Anderson Jr. 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. 1 overall in consecutive drafts and Jalen Hurts selected in the second round last year. Prolific looping around the middle on stunts due to his speed/burst. His balance and leverage stand out as particular strong points. Will Anderson Jr. In his 3 seasons with the Crimson Tide, he played in 39 games, starting all of them. This is really nitpicking. Will Anderson Jr. is the premier pass-rusher we have yearned for in recent years. He has experience playing all over the defensive line including the 7-technique, 5-technique, 4-technique, and even inside in a 3 technique. 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. He decided not to do a second attempt, telling NFL Network that he was satisfied with his time. With his high pedigree and gargantuan size, Evan Neal certainly has the NFL's attention. Against the run, he easily stacks single blocks and sets the edge. The Alabama EDGE can target and negate extensions with precise hands, and he can use brutal swipes to keep himself clean in congestion. Big selling point to his game as he can play at a high level across a lot of snaps. Though he is considered to be an edge-rusher, Anderson participated in drills with the linebackers group rather than the defensive linemen. When his rush does not get home, he shows the awareness to peel off and get his hands in passing lanes. When his alignment is loose on the edge, he uses that runway to devastate offensive tackles with speed-to-power rushes. We break down the skillset he brings to the table here. Where he needs to improve: There isn't much to mention here. During his time at Alabama, Anderson was utilized in multiple defensive lineman alignments, lining up as an edge player, 3-tech, and 4-tech, which put him in positions to attack the weak spots of a defense and disrupt plays with physicality. In the run game, his style is all about attacking and physically imposing his will on offensive linemen to be a dominant run defender. If he were draft-eligible, he would have been the #1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Excellent change of direction for a defensive lineman to test offensive linemens ability to redirect and consistently win with inside pass-rush moves. Lastly, Anderson sometimes sacrifices leverage trying to stonewall blockers with sheer momentum, using his frame as a projectile. 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. But Andersons size is a notable hindrance in that pursuit. There is room for him to expand his pass rush arsenal, but all . Note: This profile will be updated as more information becomes available. His freshman year was quieter, but still impressive. Led by T.J. McCreight, The 33rd Team Scouting Department has been hard at work evaluating the top prospects in this . If he were 65 and 265 pounds, perhaps hed meet that threshold. Pass rush and counter moves are unreal, it's a truly unstoppable arsenal. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! But in 2022 season, his numbers were down quite a bit. 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. 17 overall prospect in the 2020 class, Anderson received 39 offers coming out of high school. However, it should be noted that he won't be doing a lot of coverage as an off-ball linebacker because any team that drafts him would deploy him as a pass-rusher. The Alabama EDGE lacks quantifiably elite strength and length and can struggle to deconstruct around the apex against larger tackles. He can be more consistent stacking counters, as his rushes sometimes die after initial moves. Will Anderson Jr. is most definitely a blue chip prospect. Scouting Report - Draft Dive | 2023 NFL Draft LB Spotlight Will Anderson Jr. A quarterback, turned running back, turned fullback, turned linebacker, the Dillon, Montana native checks . The youngster is stout against the run and violent at the point of contact. EDGE, Alabama. As of now, Anderson is a power rusher who is reliant upon only a couple of moves to win as a pass rusher. Anderson has been hailed by many as the best prospect in this draft class, and he's someone who's a disruptive pass . Ht: 6036 | Wt: 243 | Upd: 02/15/2023. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Does the 2023 NFL Draft scouting report of Alabama EDGE Will Anderson Jr. boast generational upside? Scouting report A five-star from outside Atlanta, Will Anderson Jr. has been as good as -- and maybe better than -- advertised since arriving in Tuscaloosa. However, there is no denying that both players are blue-chip prospects. As we head toward the 2022 college football season, the Will Levis hype train is picking up steam. He is an athletic, explosive disruptor who has exceedingly rare talents. It's the job of a scout to not get caught up in the excitement and go to the film for a true evaluation of a player. Height: 6'4. 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. 6. Bet $5+ on any sport pre-game ML, Get $150 If Your Bet Wins. 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.. He's coming off a 2022 campaign in which he won the Bednarik Award as well as the Lombardi Award. Will Anderson Jr. runs official 4.60-second 40-yard dash at 2023 combine Alabama Crimson Tide EDGE Will Anderson Jr. runs the 40-yard dash at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. Right now, offensive linemen take an inside leverage approach to Anderson and force him to play through their frame. 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. Mock Draft Machine Beta Testing Has Begun! Versatility. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/draft/free/stories, at Game tape watched: at Mississippi State (Oct. 16, 2021), vs. Georgia (SEC Championship Game; Dec. 4, 2021), vs. Cincinnati (College Football Playoff semifinal; Dec. 31, 2021), vs. Georgia (CFP National Championship; Jan. 10, 2022). 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 Main Photo: Gary Cosby Jr. USA Today Sports. Scouting report "Anderson has little weakness. Personally, I believe that Anderson is the best prospect in this draft class. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. 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 | section: | slug: will-anderson-jr-nfl-draft-2023-scouting-report-nfl-combine-results-prospect-ranking-pro-comparison-more | sport: football | route: article_single_special | . Missed 14 tackles in 2022- 27.5% of his tackle attempts, Tackling grades at Bama- 2022: 46.6, 2021: 71.4, 2020: 64.0. If a tackle doesnt get out of his stance quickly hes getting beat around the edge.