NFL Draft Profile: Houston Texans Select Alabama EDGE Will Anderson
In this story:
#31
Pos: EDGE
Ht: 6036
Wt: 253
Hand: 0978
Arm: 3378
Wing: 8100
40: 4.60
DOB: 9/2/2001
Hometown: Hampton, GA
High School: Dutchtown
Eligibility: 2023
Will Anderson Jr.
Alabama Crimson Tide
One-Liner:
A potential first overall selection with the ability to convert speed to power and is also a twitch athlete with great speed.
Evaluation:
The consensus number one prospect in the nation, there are few flaws in Anderson’s overall game. He is one of the most twitchy and fastest pass-rushers that we’ve seen come off the edge in quite some time. His ability to convert speed to power, along with his bend and athleticism, enables him to use an array of moves to get to the quarterback. Piling up 17.5 sacks in the SEC as Anderson did a year ago will draw lots of attention but one of the more underrated aspects of his game is to play containment and set the edge in the run game as well (101 tackles in 2021, including 31 tackles for loss). He possesses highly active hands, which shows up on film, as he gets his mittens on a lot of tipped balls. A generational talent, Anderson would appear to be in line for another dominant season, as he continues to state his case to be the top overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Grade:
1st Round
Quotes:
"I just want to show that I am a great leader. I love my teammates. I am very supportive. I am very positive, very energized and always have a smile on my face. I want to leave a great legacy at The University of Alabama." -- Alabama LB Will Anderson on his presence
Background:
Will Anderson might be the best prospect on the board come 2023. At 6’4, two hundred forty three pounds, Anderson is the linebacker every team would want. From the very beginning at Alabama, Anderson made an immediate impact, with the season opener making three tackles and three Quarterback pressures. In his second season with the Crimson Tide, Anderson was named the top defensive player in college football and was unanimous All American. In his conference, the SEC, he was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He led the entire nation in tackles for loss while also individually totaling seventeen and a half sacks and one hundred and two tackles total. With all of these awards and stats on Anderson’s name, he will be a linebacker that will make an immediate impact in the NFL.
