Elite 11 Evaluation: Miami Hurricanes Commitment Judd Anderson
CARROLLTON, Ga. - There was no better way to define Miami Hurricanes quarterback commitment Judd Anderson than to see him throw during the Elite 11 regional.
After seeing him throw live, here were the returns from his performance, beginning with some insight into this young man’s mental makeup.
Personality
Anderson was one of the more engaging and articulate young men at the Elite 11 regional. In short, he was a good guy that loved to talk football, and just life in general.
He talked it up with numerous players and coaches during the camp. His personality was infectious. Hard to imagine someone not enjoying a conversation with Anderson. That’s going to help him during his quest to be the starting quarterback for the Miami Hurricanes.
That leads to another prime point.
Competitive Nature
Whether he was learning from one of the Elite 11 counselors, or encouraging another player performing, Anderson was constantly engaged while pushing himself and others to perform at a higher level.
That's also helpful when playing talented teams that his Gray (Ga.) Jones County program faces each year, and will help him develop faster for playing college football at Miami.
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As an additional point, having a natural drive can aid Anderson with anything he does in life.
Size and Build
Prototypical NFL frame at 6-foot-7 and 223 pounds. Speaking of the NFL, Anderson’s build and weight would probably be similar to now Los Angeles Charger Justin Herbert, but when he was playing for the Oregon Ducks.
According to Anderson himself, he came in at 223 pounds a few days ago.
Anderson’s conditioning was really good. He does not have bad weight and looked much like a lean and muscular basketball player.
Throwing Motion
Smooth, over the top delivery. Anderson’s motion was natural from throw one and throughout the Elite 11 camp.
Even when moved towards his left, Anderson showcased an effortless motion and understanding of how to utilize his hips and feet to generate velocity.
If there’s one item to improve with his delivery, it’s hastening the release time at least a little bit. Being a little more tight to his body with his arm, would be one way to describe it.
While all but impossible to explain in more detail via words, just know that he can get the ball out faster with more training and reps. That’s normal. It’s a long process in which Anderson will improve upon.
Power
When Anderson wanted to throw a dart, he did. He will gain even more power with time – especially with his natural stature – as he finetunes incremental differences in his delivery and overall mechanics.
Mobility
Displayed quickness to the perimeter during rollout passes, yet did so without giving up technique (that might have been the most impressive part of his Elite 11 performance).
Feet in the Pocket
Anderson also consistently executed pretty good balance in the pocket. As basic as it may sound, that point was great to see. Even being off kilter just an inch can cause a pass to be incomplete or be intercepted.
Could he improve within this area? Sure he could. So could Tom Brady or any other NFL quarterback.
There’s nobody that’s perfect. Anderson displayed a good understanding of where his feet needed to be, i.e. not over striding or attempting to throw with just his upper body. That’s a great start for learning how to be a Power 5 signal caller.
Once Anderson arrives in Coral Gables, Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson will have a quarterback that already possesses a good grasp of mechanics. That’s one less thing to worry about for the long overall development of playing quarterback at The U.
Area to Develop
Let it rip, every time. Anderson did not always zip a pass towards his intended target. He admitted as much during a conversation in the middle portion of the event, especially regarding when he was throwing passes during the early portion of the Elite 11.
With his arm, no need to even think about the result. It’s about reps and doing the same way every single time to get better anyway.
That means 100% confidence that he can throw a strike – and do so with velocity and/or a specific trajectory – no matter the situation on the gridiron.
As he gains more experience, this area should alleviate itself. Remember, he’s still in high school.
Long-Term Prognosis
Anderson has a tremendous amount of upside. He’s still a developing player, however.
Need to see him live against top-notch competition – with the threat of being hit when he attempts to deliver a pass – to gain an even better perspective.
To do that, the game where Anderson will lead his Jones County squad into Warner Robins to play one of the best high school programs in the country on Oct. 27 would help identify even more of what he can do behind center.
That’s going to be a great contest and one that Anderson will be challenged all game long.
For now, know that he has the natural size, disposition, basic quarterback fundamentals, arm strength, and determination to one day be the starting quarterback for Miami.
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