Alabama outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr. is preparing for his junior season, which will likely be his last. Anderson is expected to declare for the 2023 NFL draft after the upcoming college football season.
Currently, Anderson is hovering around the first overall pick in recent mock drafts, which is a testament to how dominant he was in 2021.
NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah recently did a deep dive into Anderson’s film and explained why he believes the Alabama star will have a strong career in the NFL.
I could make a 20-minute highlight tape of impressive defensive snaps from Anderson during the 2021 season,” writes Jeremiah. “However, I was most blown away by his performance on extra-point attempts. I know that sounds crazy, but it’s true. Having worked with one of Bill Belichick’s top scouts, I know the importance the Patriots head coach places on that play. It tells you everything about the competitiveness of a player. After giving up a touchdown, you often see defensive players give marginal effort on extra-point tries. 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. I asked a source at Alabama about his character and he told me, “That’s the best thing about him.” It’s rare to find a player with his combination of talent and intangibles. Special!
Jeremiah’s NFL comparison for Anderson is Von Miller, one of the greatest defensive players of all time in the NFL.
I realize this is high praise but I got the same vibe watching Anderson that I did when I studied Miller coming out of Texas A&M in 2011. Both guys have very long arms. They understand how to set up blockers and finish. They are devastating on the backside versus the run and they play with excellent effort. Miller, an eight-time Pro Bowl selectee, bends a little better than Anderson but I’d give the Bama edge rusher the nod when it comes to pure power.
When it came to criticism, Jeremiah didn’t have much. The only part of Anderson’s game that Jeremiah argued wasn’t perfect was his lack of speed. however, that hasn’t seemed to hurt him when breaking into the opposing team’s backfield and taking out the quarterback or ball carrier.
Roll Tide Wire will continue to cover Alabama football and players that could be selected in next year’s 2023 NFL draft.
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