We have a quarterback-heavy NFL Draft class, but one of the top defensive players is a projected top-five selection.
Will Anderson Jr., a University of Alabama alum, is regarded as the ‘safest pick’ in the draft by experts. Anderson, a native Georgian, stands behind only Derrick Thomas in Crimson Tide history for sacks (34.5) and tackles for loss (62). He is the lone player in Alabama history to become a two-time Unanimous first-team All-American. Anderson is a two-time Bronko Nagurski Award winner and two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He captured numerous individual awards and dominated offenses in arguably the best conference in college football. The 6-foot-3, 253-pounder had an official 40-time of 4.6 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine and earned a 7.02 grade in his draft process, meaning the NFL evaluators see him as a “Pro Bowl talent.”
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His success is nothing short of outstanding; however, some pundits see Georgia’s Jalen Carter and others as more explosive than Anderson in this class of edge rushers. He collected double-digit sack numbers in three seasons in Tuscaloosa (Ala.), including ten sacks last season despite being double and triple-teamed. Anderson had a classic response on Good Morning Football to those that see him as a ‘safe pick.’ As a former College Football Playoff National Champion, he is prepared to dominate the league.
“At the end of the day I know the type of person I am, I know the type of player I am… I just try to go out there and be Will Anderson. It’s not a safe pick, it’s the right pick.” @will_anderson28 in response to being called a “safe pick” pic.twitter.com/VVVXqByanT
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) April 18, 2023
“I don’t buy into all that stuff,” Anderson said about the conversation of him being the ‘safe pick’ in the draft. “At the end of the day I know the type of person I am, I know the type of player I am… I just try to go out there and be Will Anderson. It is not a safe pick, it is the right pick.”
Anderson knows what he brings to a team. As a two-time team captain, he pushed the Crimson Tide to two Southeastern Conference Championships in 2020 and 2021. He also helped the Tide to the College Football Playoff in 2020 and 2021.
The former five-star played in the Allstate Sugar Bowl against Kansas State to help Alabama finish the 2022 season with 11 wins.
DeMeco Ryans and the Houston Texans have the No. 2 overall, and it will be interesting to see if they take Anderson.
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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.
