Will Anderson could become the next superstar edge rusher in the National Football League.
He proved his dominance through three seasons at the University of Alabama, striking fear into quarterbacks, running backs, and offensive coordinators. Anderson recorded 34.5 sacks, 62 tackles for loss, 29 quarterback hurries, two blocked field goals, and an interception returned for a touchdown. The 6-foot-4, 243-pounder accomplished numerous individual accolades, including two-time Unanimous All-American.
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Anderson assisted the Tide to two Southeastern Conference Championships (2020 and 2021) and a College Football Playoff National Championship in 2020. The Chicago Bears could make him the No. 1 overall selection in April if it chooses to.
Anderson’s style fits the mold of today’s edge rusher in the NFL, but he is not one to compare himself to anybody.
Christian Miller, a former Alabama outside linebacker, gave Anderson an impressive NFL comp during Friday’s In My Own Words airing. The former two-time CFP National Champion (2015 and 2017) compared Anderson to Khalil Mack.
Mack, a former first-round pick of the 2014 NFL Draft, is a three-time NFL All-Pro First Team selection. Mack won the league’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2014 with the Oakland Raiders and is a seven-time Pro Bowl selection. He made the NFL’s 2010s All-Decade Team and 100 Greatest Chicago Bears of All-Time list. Mack has 84.5 career sacks.
*Former Tide LB Christian Miller compares Will Anderson to Khalil Mack at the 41:31 mark
“He reminds me so much of Khalil Mack,” Miller said about Anderson.
“He is a much more athletic version of Mack. I’m not saying Mack is not athletic, but their body types are different. Mack is a heavier-set guy. He is pushing 270 pounds while Anderson is 245-250. Mack is the ultimate, all-around outside linebacker. He is physical, stout against the run, heavy-handed, can shed blockers, is a very effective pass rusher, and has good athleticism and get-off. Anderson is very versatile, strong, fast, and he can drop into coverage if you need him to. He can move around the line of scrimmage and be disruptive. He is a lighter, more athletic version of Mack.”
Can Anderson live up to the Mack comparison? We will see soon enough.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
