'I Was Starstruck!' Houston Texans EXCLUSIVE: Pittsburgh Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin Scouts Houston Texans Rookie Anderson Jr.
HOUSTON — Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin will always appreciate his pre-draft dinner with Houston Texans rookie Will Anderson Jr. And obviously, so will Anderson, who tells TexansDaily.com in an exclusive interview that he was "starstruck'' upon meeting the legendary coach at a pre-NFL Draft dinner.
"I love Will Anderson - he's a really talented guy," Tomlin said this week, reflecting back on their meeting while also previewing Sunday's Week 4 matchup. "There is talent sometimes that creates draft position. But when I see passion and intellectual knowledge, those are the things that turn freakish talent into freakish play."
Tomlin attended Alabama's Pro Day in March, headlined by Anderson as the highly sought-after prospect. The coach took safety Brian Branch to dinner as a draft candidate during his short stay in Tuscaloosa.
Mike Tomlin & Will Anderson
Anderson did not receive an invitation. Tomlin thought inviting Anderson would be a waste of time, given that the reigning two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year would be gone by Pittsburgh's first selection at pick No. 14.
But instead of passing on a chance to receive advice from one of the most successful coaches of the modern era, Anderson phoned Tomlin and the Steelers to express his interest in joining the dinner.
According to Tomlin, Anderson sat on his left side and spent the night asking questions and obtaining information about what it would take to build a successful pro career.
"At first, I was a little starstruck," Anderson exclusively told TexansDaily.com at SI. "I was like 'Oh, this is Mike Tomlin.' But the dinner was cool. To have an opportunity to sit around greatness to talk ball and life, we had a good time."
As a defensive-minded coach, Tomlin always saw the skill set that made Anderson the No. 3 pick by the Texans a month after their dinner. After all, the 22-year-old defensive lineman finished his career at Alabama with 205 tackles and 34.5 sacks in 114 career games.
But Tomlin walked away from the dinner more impressed with Anderson due to his thirst for knowledge and passion for the game. Tomlin's admiration for Anderson is matched by Houston coach DeMeco Ryans, who has raved about the former Crimson Tide prospect since rookie mini-camp in May.
Three games into his pro career, Anderson is one of two rookie captains for the Texans. He has recorded 13 tackles, six pressures, five quarterback hits and one sack.
"We had awesome conversations about the game and his place in it," Tomlin said. "When you sit down with a guy and break bread with them, and their love and passion is coming through, it checks all the intangible boxes. I am not surprised by what I've seen from him up to this point."
Tomlin did not have a chance to draft Anderson or Branch. After the Texans traded up to select Anderson, the Detroit Lions drafted Branch in the second round at pick No. 45.
Tomlin, however, did reap the benefits of dining with Broderick Jones and Darnell Washington the night before Georgia's Pro Day. The relationships he developed led to the Steelers drafting Jones and Washington at pick Nos. 14 and 93. And this weekend and beyond, the Texans hope Anderson Jr. can reap the benefits of dining with Tomlin.
