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: WR Javon Baker
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 third freshman, who Touchdown Alabama will spotlight is true freshman outside linebacker, Will Anderson.
Will Anderson
-Position: Outside Linebacker
-Classification: Freshman
-Height: 6-4
-Weight: 235 pounds
-2019 stats: N/A
Strengths
– Explosive Jump Off The Snap
– Possesses Great Strength
– Relentless Edge Rusher
– Makes Forceful Tackles
-Knows How To Protect The Edge
Summary: Will Anderson is a lengthy prospect at 6-4, who excels at getting after the quarterback while rushing from different spots along the defensive front.
At the moment, rushing from the edge may be Anderson’s biggest strength. His jump off the snap is extremely quick and he has no problem taking on multiple blocks to get to the quarterback. The Georgia product also knows how to keep his arms extended when taking on blocks, which stops offensive linemen from getting into his chest and getting an advantage over him.
Anderson possesses the ability to play sideline to sideline and is comfortable making tackles in the open field. The former 5-Star recruit also knows when to be patient and stay at home to protect the edge and stop ball carriers from turning the corner and getting up the field.
An impressive amount of strength allows Anderson to stop inside runs.
RELATED: Will Anderson Recruiting Profile
Weaknesses
– Dropping Back In Coverage
Summary: Anderson has all the tools to be a great pass-rush specialist and he will most likely be used as a disruptor off the edge for most of his college career at Alabama, but becoming comfortable in pass coverage can add another element to Anderson’s game and make him more marketable as an NFL prospect.
This is something Anderson can add to his game gradually as his current ability to get after the football is enough to put opposing offenses on notice.
Expectations for 2020 season
Anderson is in a great position to work himself into Alabama’s outside linebacker rotation as a freshman. After losing Anfernee Jennings and Terrell Lewis to the NFL, Alabama has some spots to fill in that position this season. Everything coming out of the Crimson Tide’s fall camp has pointed to Anderson making a huge impression and he is expected to get on the field early and often.
NFL Draft 2021 projections
Not Eligible
Conclusion
People around the Alabama football program expect big things out of William Anderson and he is expected to introduce himself to the college football world this season.
Will Anderson is a name, that may be heard for years to come in Tuscaloosa.
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
