Tag: Will Anderson Jr.

2023 NFL mock draft: Seahawks pick Will Anderson, Noah Sewell in Round 1

In a new mock draft from Doug Farrar at Touchdown Wire, Seattle uses both picks to address their defensive front-seven holes.

If the 2022 season were to end today, the Seahawks would be preparing for a road-trip to play a wild card game. They’d also be in line for the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, as well as their own first-round pick – currently projected to be at No. 20 overall. In a new mock draft from Doug Farrar at Touchdown Wire, Seattle uses both picks to address their defensive front-seven holes.

First, they take Alabama Edge Will Anderson Jr. at No. 3.

Anderson (6-foot-4, 235 pounds) would help turn around a lackluster and top-heavy Seahawks pass rush. Going into Week 14, Uchenna Nwosu has produced nine of the team’s 32 sacks – no other play has more than four. Upgrading with Anderson would be like adding a nuke to the arsenal. He has totaled 34.5 sacks and 58.5 tackles for a loss in just 40 games at Alabama. Here’s the highlight reel.

When the Seahawks get back on the clock to pick, Farrar has them selecting Oregon linebacker Noah Sewell at No. 20.

Sewell (6-foot-3, 250 pounds) would empower Pete Carroll to make a change at inside linebacker – replacing either Jordyn Brooks or Cody Barton. While both have shown improvement, they also have enough mistakes on tape to warrant a new starter, especially if Seattle can find one as talented as this.

Sewell has awesome sideline-to-sideline range and does it all: he can rush the passer, defend the run and drop back into coverage effectively. He’s posted 20.5 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks, two interceptions and eight passes defensed in 33 games at Oregon.

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2023 NFL mock draft: Heismans, bowl games, and playoffs (both NFL and NCAA)

With bowl games and the College Football Playoff right around the corner, it’s time for Doug Farrar’s latest mock draft.

With the 2022 NCAA season over, the Heisman Trophy finalists announced Monday (the winner will be crowned on Saturday), bowl season just around the corner, and the College Football Playoff starting on New Year’s Eve, it’s time more than ever to turn our attention to the 2023 NFL draft.

A couple of potential first-round picks — Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and LSU receiver Kayshon Boutte — have decided to return to school for their 2023 season, so they’re off the boards. That still leaves more than enough top-tier talent for NFL teams to consider, and with the scouting combine starting on February 28, it’s time for teams to get their ducks in a row, with an eye on all those postseason games.

At Touchdown Wire, we’ll have you covered as we always do, with detailed prospect analysis, lists of the best players by position, and our eventual list of the 50 best players in the 2023 draft.

For now, and as the NFL playoff picture starts to become clearer, it’s mock draft season! Here’s our latest, based on wild speculation, a few things we may have heard, and team needs to a point.

(Note: The Miami Dolphins, who would have the 24th slot in the 2023 draft were it held today, forfeited that first-round pick as part of their punishment for tampering). 

2023 NFL mock draft: Happy (post)-Thanksgiving!

It’s Thanksgiving mock draft time, so Doug Farrar is ready to round out the NFL’s best teams, and to give hope to the hopeless.

It’s Black Friday, so it’s time to get in line online and in person to get all those crazy deals. If you’re in personnel for an NFL team, it’s also time to get serious about the 2023 NFL draft. Whether you’re a Super Bowl contender or playing out the string in a hopeless season, area scouts are reporting to head scouts and directors of player personnel, and general managers and coaching staffs are getting their voices in, as well. So, it’s time to get ready for some (hopefully) crazy deals in that realm, as well.

With this mock draft, and given the holiday theme, it’s time to round out the NFL’s better teams, and to give hope to the hopeless.

Note: The Miami Dolphins, who would have picked 24th were the 2023 draft to start today, forfeited their first-round pick as punishment for tampering.

(All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus and Sports Info Solutions unless otherwise indicated). 

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2023 NFL Mock Draft: Teams out of hope in 2022 look forward to next year

It’s the halfway point of the season, which means it’s time to take a look at the first round of the 2023 draft with Doug Farrar’s first-round mock.

As we head into Week 10 of the 2022 NFL season — which starts with Thursday night’s game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers — there are 15 teams with winning percentages of .500 or better, and 17 with winning percentages on the down side of the good stuff. The 4-5 Falcons and 2-7 Panthers are two of those teams, and while Atlanta is looking to maintain a serious presence at the top of the seriously weird NFC South, the Panthers are basically looking to do their best in the current season, but they’re really playing for 2023.

If you’re past the trade deadline (which the NFL is, but shouldn’t yet be), and you have no real shot in the playoff picture, it’s time to get those area scouts gathered in with their best prospects, turn on that college tape, and get rolling to the future. If you’re on the bubble, there’s still a focus on 2023 prospects already, and even if you’re nearly assured of a playoff spot in 2022, you’re still thinking about the draft to a greater or lesser degree.

But especially for the NFL teams with more 2023 first-round juice than 2022 in-season hope, here’s one first-round mock draft for next year.

Areas of concern ahead of Alabama’s Week 7 matchup against Tennessee

Some areas of concern ahead of Alabama’s Week 7 matchup against the Tennessee Volunteers.

Alabama will have to be up to the test this weekend against an undefeated Tennessee team. This is the first time that the two have both been undefeated up to this point, so it is shaping up to be one of the biggest games in the rivalry’s history.

The Volunteers are led offensively by potential Heisman candidate Hendon Hooker as well as a great nucleus of playmakers surrounding him. On defense, the Volunteers have a stout run defense with good players on the back end as well.

The Crimson Tide have played well this season but will have to answer the call against a Tennessee team that is on the rise. It will be essential for both sides of the ball to play to their best abilities on Saturday afternoon.

Today, Roll Tide Wire will take a look at some of the areas of concern heading into Alabama’s Week 7 matchup against Tennessee.

Clemson DE tied for FBS lead in this stat over last two weeks

This standout Clemson pass rusher has been harrassing quarterbacks on a consistent basis. The Tigers’ graduate senior defensive end, K.J. Henry, is tied for the FBS lead with 16 quarterback pressures over the past couple of weeks per Pro Football …

This standout Clemson pass rusher has been harrassing quarterbacks on a consistent basis.

The Tigers’ graduate senior defensive end, K.J. Henry, is tied for the FBS lead with 16 quarterback pressures over the past couple of weeks per Pro Football Focus.

Only Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr., the reigning Nagurski Trophy winner as the nation’s top defensive player last season, has as many quarterback pressures as Henry in the last two weeks.

Henry was credited with two tackles (one for loss) and the fourth fumble recovery of his career vs. NC State two weeks ago before contributing two tackles (one for loss) at Boston College last week.

In his fifth year at Clemson, the native of Winston-Salem, N.C., has tallied a team-high 5.5 tackles for loss through six games this season. He has recorded 22 total tackles, a sack and a pass breakup to go with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Henry entered the 2022 season having registered 88 career tackles (19.0 for loss), 10.0 sacks, five pass breakups, three fumble recoveries and one forced fumble in 1,112 snaps over 44 career games (10 starts).

Dear Old Clemson is excited to announce a limited edition football and poster signed by Clemson’s Avengers.

Now there is a new way you can support Clemson student-athletes. Purchase collectibles from Dear Old Clemson and the proceeds with go to support Clemson student-athletes. Visit Dear Old Clemson to find out how you can help!

12 Players to watch in Alabama-Arkansas SEC showdown

The players to watch for during the SEC West showdown.

It’s already been announced that Saturday’s matchup between Arkansas and Alabama will be a RED OUT for the first time inside Razorback Stadium.

This was the game everyone circled during the preseason banter. If it weren’t for a cluster of mistakes against Texas A&M, the Hogs would be entering this game undefeated, somewhere in the top ten.

The sky isn’t falling, despite the significant drop in the rankings. Having only one loss after playing the most brutal four-game month in college football is still something to brag about. However, Nick Saban has already let it be known that the Tide are not overlooking Arkansas and need to have a great week of preparation.

And let’s not forget, the Razorbacks came one possession short of knocking off the 2021 SEC Champs.

This is a must-win game for Arkansas if they want to keep their names close to the college football playoffs. They’ll need big games from these players.

Will Anderson Jr.: ‘ I haven’t reached my full potential yet’

Will Anderson Jr. discusses his leadership and mentality regarding the upcoming 2022 season

Will Anderson Jr., burst onto the scene as a true freshman for the Crimson Tide in 2020 when he accumulated 52 total tackles seven sacks and forced one fumble. While Tide fans were prepared for the emergence of “The Terminator,” he caught a lot of people by surprise when he became the best defensive player in college football in 2021 posting 31 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks.

Aside from being totally and utterly dominant on the field, one of the most remarkable things about Anderson though is the head he has on his shoulders. He is a leader by example, he loves to be coached, he believes in Coach Saban’s process, and he continues to strive for improvement every day on and off the field.

When Anderson was asked if he had reached his full potential yet he said, “I still haven’t reached my full potential yet. Last year was a great year, but I feel like there is always room for improvement.”

Anderson has the relentless pursuit of greatness in him and as a result, he’s never been one to shy away from his weaknesses as a player. Anderson shared with the crew, “The first thing I did when I walked into Saban’s office was say I know the good, just tell me what I need to work on, how to be a better player than I was last year.”

Coach Saban has always been very vocal and emphatic in his appreciation of Anderson. Anderson said for him personally a big moment was when Saban held him and Bryce Young after the national title press conference to praise their work ethic and the pillars they are in their community.

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Four Alabama Football players placed on the Nagurski Trophy watch List

Four Crimson Tide stars name to the Nagurski Trophy watch list

The Nagurski Trophy is annually handed out to the best defensive player in college football, and four members of the Crimson Tide appear on the 2022 preseason watchlist. Will Anderson Jr. is the reigning award winner, and joining him on the watch list for this upcoming season are Eli Ricks, Jordan Battle and Henry To’oTo’o.

Ricks will be making his debut for the Tide in 2022, however, he was already a Third-team All-American in 2020 with the LSU Tigers. To’oTo’o will be starting for his fourth season in the SEC and led the Tide in tackles in 2021. To the surprise of many, Battle stuck around for his senior year instead of declaring for the NFL draft and is one of the biggest playmakers in the collegiate game.

While there is a great chance that Anderson goes back to back, it would be interesting to see if a teammate of his contends for the award.

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Will Anderson: ‘When we play Texas A&M everything will be addressed’

Will Anderson will address Jimbo Fisher comments on the gridiron.

Name, image, likeness (NIL) is still relatively young, but has already impacted collegiate athletics. Two of the nation’s prominent head football coaches, Texas A&M head coach, Jimbo Fisher, and his former mentor, Nick Saban, highlighted the offseason with their brief NIL feud.

To nobody’s surprise, the comments were a hot topic of conversation for all at SEC media days, including Alabama star linebacker [autotag]Will Anderson [/autotag]. When asked about the offseason debacle between the two coaches, Anderson chuckled at first, but then was very stoic and said, “When we play Texas A&M everything will be addressed then.”

The Crimson Tide will take on the Aggies on Oct. 8 in Tuscaloosa, AL.

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Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

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