With Alabama football’s fall camp in full swing, the staff for Touchdown Alabama Magazine will release a series of player spotlight pieces on starters and marquee contributors for the 2020 football season.
RELATED: 2020 Alabama Player Spotlight: DB Brian Branch
In these articles, we will dive into the strengths and weaknesses of each player, provide expectations for 2020, give NFL Draft projections for those who are eligible, and conclude with how each one can impact the team.
The next Alabama player and the sixth freshman, who Touchdown Alabama will spotlight is true freshman outside linebacker, Drew Sanders.
Drew Sanders
-Position: Outside Linebacker
-Classification: Freshman
-Height: 6-5
-Weight: 230 pounds
-2019 stats: N/A
Strengths
– Athleticism
– Possesses great strength
– Versatile
– Can play sideline to sideline
– Shows quickness with rushing off te edge
Summary: Drew Sanders is a special athlete, who has experience playing multiple positions on the offensive and defensive side of the football.
During his time at Ryan High School in Denton, Texas, Sanders spent some time at wide receiver, defensive end, inside linebacker and wide receiver. He brings that versatility to the collegiate level, which could allow him to see some time on offense at some point in his college career. Alabama football plans to use him in more of an edge rusher role as a freshman.
The Texas product’s skillset and body frame make him the perfect candidate to be an elite outside linebacker for Alabama. He shows great strength when rushing off the edge and has a burst of quickness, which makes him hard to block. His all-around athleticism allows him to play sideline to sideline.
Sanders has superb ball skills for an outside linebacker with his experience at playing wide receiver.
RELATED: Drew Sanders Recruiting Profile
Weaknesses
– Needs to develop into a full-time outside linebacker
Summary: Since Ryan High School used Sanders at so many different positions, this is obviously the first time he is focusing on just one and he has made quite the impression during his short time in Tuscaloosa. Game time experience this season should help Sanders hone in on his skills and add more rush moves to his repertoire.
Expectations for 2020 season
Sanders is currently listed as the second string jack linebacker for the Crimson Tide, which means he will most likely get substantial playing time this season. In the past, Alabama football has depended on its outside linebackers to pressure the quarterback on obvious passing downs. The former 5-Star recruit should get his opportunity to do that multiple times this season on critical downs.
NFL Draft 2021 projections
Not Eligible
Conclusion
Sanders has the athletic ability to help Alabama’s defense get back to where they were a few years ago. Although the Texas product is expected to be used primarily as an outside linebacker, do not be surprised if Alabama tries to use him elsewhere at some point in the future.
RELATED: 2020 Player Spotlight: QB Mac Jones
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Justin Smith is a Scouting/Recruiting analyst for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via @Jdsmith31Smith
