*Will Anderson Jr., Alabama Football News: Draft Scout Player News

01/04/23 - DE *Will Anderson Jr., Jr/2023, Alabama

What became obvious not long after Will Anderson stepped foot on Alabama's campus three years ago became official Monday: the star outside linebacker will enter the NFL draft. Anderson was a three-year starter who made an immediate impact on Alabama's national championship team in 2020 and was considered among college football's best players the past two seasons. He made his announcement at a news conference with Nick Saban and two other juniors entering the 2023 draft, Bryce Young and Jahmyr Gibbs. Saban made it clear other juniors could decide later to enter.

Anderson as one of the most accomplished players in program history and among the more decorated defensive players in college football history. "These past three years have been the best years of my life," Anderson said Monday. He is the school's only two-time unanimous All-American, a two-time winner of the Nagurski Trophy and SEC defensive player of the year, and also won the Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award and Lott Trophy this season. He started on Alabama's undefeated national championship team as a freshman in 2020 and was named a permanent team captain after both is sophomore and junior seasons. Anderson's 34.5 career sacks place him second in the school's record book behind Derrick Thomas' 52 over four seasons in the late 1980s. As a sophomore in 2021, Anderson led Division I with 17.5 sacks and had 34.5 tackles for loss - 12.5 more than any other player in the country. His 10 sacks led the team again this season. It has been almost 75 years since Alabama last had a player drafted No. 1 overall to the NFL. Harry Gilmer, selected by Washington at the start of the 1948 draft, was the Tide's last top pick. - Birmingham News

Jr/2023