Alabama

Lions 2023 draft profile: Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama

Published

2 years ago

April 11, 2023

Probably the most coveted gamers within the draft by followers of nearly each crew, Alabama’ss famous person cross rusher has an entire lot to supply.

Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama

Top: 6-foot-3.5 inches

Weight: 253 kilos (measured at Mix)

Anderson is 21 years previous

The junior received the SEC Defensive Participant of the 12 months in each 2021 and 2022. Anderson’s 2021 season is without doubt one of the most spectacular in latest historical past. He bagged 17 sacks amongst an astonishing 31 tackles for loss. He fell again a bit in 2022 after gaining some bulk, including 10 sacks and 17 extra TFLs in addition to a pick-six.

Lions 2023 NFL draft profile: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech

Professionals

Excellent manufacturing at a high-level program
Elite go off the snap
Very spectacular use of his fingers and shoulders; exhibits energy and technical coordination and refinement
Distinctive finisher within the backfield in opposition to QBs
Understands his hole and edge tasks in run protection
In a position to shut shortly with a superb mix of acceleration, energy and physique management; very hardly ever overshoots the purpose of assault
Accelerates out of contact and after turning the nook with uncommon burst
Constantly finds one of the best path to the purpose of assault
Robust sufficient to assault inside and never get bullied

Cons

Offensive tackles with good punches can actually nullify his means to win across the edge (see Darnell Wright/Tennessee)
His bend is a bit excessive and tight; wins extra by being sooner and utilizing his attain than flattening effectively across the edge
Performed higher in 2021 at a lighter weight
Had a really excessive missed sort out fee in 2022 (27 p.c per PFF) that helps clarify the decline in manufacturing
No actual expertise in protection conditions
Extra vigorous at getting off blocks on the cross rush than in run protection

General

Anderson entered the 2022 season as the highest defensive prospect. Despite the fact that his junior season wasn’t as exemplary, Anderson stays a high-end expertise who might shortly emerge as an affect cross rusher within the NFL. His burst, size and soccer savvy all portend very effectively on the subsequent degree.

He’s not an ideal schematic slot in Detroit; Anderson tasks higher as an completely stand-up OLB-type of EDGE in an odd-man entrance, whereas the Lions do run a base 4-2-5 that asks the EDGE to play tighter to the formation and generally with a hand within the dust. Regardless, Anderson has the expertise and athleticism to be extremely efficient in any system.

If he’s on the board when the Lions choose at No. 6, it’s a “dash to the rostrum” state of affairs together with his identify on the cardboard and it doesn’t matter what different gamers at any place can be found.

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Alabama

2024 Alabama High School Back and Lineman of the Year Finalists

Published

6 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

2024 Alabama High School Back and Lineman of the Year Finalists

Winners, Super All-State and Mr. Football to be revealed Jan. 28 at a luncheon banquet at the Montgomery Renaissance.

Class 7A

Back of the year
Anquon Fegans, Thompson
Trent Seaborn, Thompson
Daylyn Upshaw, Central-Phenix City

Lineman of the year
Malik Autry, Opelika
Zion Grady, Enterprise
Jared Smith, Thompson

Class 6A

Back of the year
Corey Barber, Spain Park
KJ Lacey, Saraland
Na’eem Offord, Parker

Lineman of the year
Keenan Britt, Oxford
Jourdin Crawford, Parker
Anthony Jones, St. Paul’s

Class 5A

Back of the year
Conner Nelson, Leeds
Cam Phinizee, Russellville
Jotavion Pierce, Catholic-Montgomery

Lineman of the year
Jabarrius Garrar, Vigor
Kentonio Kelly Jr., Vigor
Ellis McGaskin, Williamson

Class 4A

Back of the year
EJ Crowell, Jackson
Landon Duckworth, Jackson
Gunner Rivers, St. Michael

Lineman of the year
Tristan Brown, Cherokee Co.
Tae Diamond, Cherokee Co.
AJ Rice, Madison Academy

Class 3A

Back of the year
Caden Chandler, Mars Hill Bible
Kadyn Mitchell, Houston Academy
Rollie Pinto, Piedmont

Lineman of the year
Myles Johnson, T.R. Miller
Billy Neill, Bayside Academy
Tucker Wilks, Fyffe

Class 2A

Back of the year
Chris Clemons, Winston Co.
Luke Gilbert, Pisgah
Preston Lancaster, Tuscaloosa Aca.

Lineman of the year
JJ Faulk, Highland Home
Clete O’Bryant, Coosa Christian
Grayson Gulde, Vincent

Class 1A

Back of the year
Alvin Henderson, Elba
Ziquayvion Jackson, McKenzie
Jaquez Wilkes, Wadley

Lineman of the year
Fred Curry, Georgiana
Hayes Farrell, Donoho
Tim Parnell, Leroy

AISA

Back of the year
Julian Curry, Wilcox Academy
Gerrell Perry, Banks Academy
Luke Tarver, Chambers Academy

Lineman of the year
Jackson Boykin, South Choctaw Academy
Ashton Yelder, Lowndes Academy
Asher Young, Fort Dale Academy

The Alabama Sports Writers Association is a professional organization for sports writers and editors throughout the state, or any person involved in disseminating sports information or publicity in Alabama including but not limited to sports information personnel, publicists of professional organizations or facilities, or publicists of non-profit organizations sponsoring or governing sporting events. The ASWA is a non-profit organization.

The ASWA prep committee’s primary responsibilities include conducting regular top-10 rankings of a variety of high school sports, and select all-state teams in those sports as well. The committee will determine the winner of a variety of annual awards including the annual Mr. Football winner, and the Jimmy Smothers Courage Award. For more information, check out: ASWA

See Also 2024 Alabama High School All-State Football Selections

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Alabama

3 former Alabama high school stars return to NFL rosters

Published

13 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

3 former Alabama high school stars return to NFL rosters

Three Alabama high school alumni will wake up on Christmas morning on NFL rosters after starting Christmas eve out of the league.

On Tuesday, the Buffalo Bills signed linebacker Nicholas Morrow (Huntsville High School) to their active roster, the Atlanta Falcons signed linebacker Rashaan Evans (Auburn High School, Alabama) to their practice squad and the Miami Dolphins signed defensive tackle Neil Farrell Jr. (Murphy High School) to their practice squad.

Each of the players rejoined a team they had played for this season.

An eight-year veteran with 105 NFL regular-season games and 58 starts in his career, Morrow played in 11 games for Buffalo before the Bills released him on Dec. 7.

A seven-year veteran with 87 NFL regular-season games and 68 starts in his career, Evans played in two games for Atlanta before being waived on Saturday. This is the third time the Falcons have signed Evans for their practice squad this season. He joined the team on Oct. 1, was released on Oct. 12, re-signed on Oct. 21 and moved up to the active roster on Nov. 1.

A three-year veteran with 19 NFL regular-season games in his career, Farrell played in seven games for Miami before being waived on Saturday. Farrell joined the Dolphins’ practice squad on Sept. 26 and moved up to the active roster on Nov. 11.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.

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Alabama

How to Watch the ReliaQuest Bowl: No. 11 Alabama vs. Michigan

Published

23 hours ago

December 24, 2024

Press Room

How to Watch the ReliaQuest Bowl: No. 11 Alabama vs. Michigan

Alabama and Michigan played in a bowl game on the first day of 2024 and will play in another on the final day of 2024, there’s just not as much as statke this time. The Crimson Tide and Wolverines are becoming familiar postseason foes, meeting in a bowl game for the third time in the last six seasons with this year’s matchup in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa, Florida.

Both teams will be without several players because of injuries and the transfer portal, but it will be another game between two of the most storied programs in college football history. Alabama and Michigan both had disappointing seasons relative to their standards but are coming off wins over bitter rivals in the final game of the regular season.

Here’s what you need to know about the seaon finale in Year 1 for Kalen DeBoer at Alabama:

Who: Alabama (9-3, 5-3 SEC) vs. Michigan (7-5, 5-4 Big Ten)

What: ReliaQuest Bowl

When: Tuesday, Dec. 31, 11 a.m. CT

Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

TV: ESPN

Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-By-Play: Chris Stewart, Color: Tyler Watts).

Sirius XM: Away 191, Home 372

Series: Tied, 3-3

Last meeting: The two teams met last postseason in the Rose Bowl as the semifinal for the College Football Playoff. Michigan won 27-20 in overtime and went on to win the national championship. Alabama led for almost the whole fourth quarter, but let Michigan go on a 75-yard drive in the final few minutes of regulation to tie the game up. The Wolverines got the ball first in overtime and were in the end zone two plays later. Jalen Milroe was stopped on fourth-and-goal from the 3 to give Michigan the win.

Last time out, Alabama: Alabama handled business in the Iron Bowl against Auburn with a 28-14 victory despite turning the ball over four times. Milroe had 256 yards through the air and another 104 on the ground with three more rushing touchdowns.

Last time out, Michigan: The Wolverines had one of the biggest upsets of the college football season, knocking off bitter rival No. 2 Ohio State on the road. Michigan stifled the Buckeye offense on the way to the 13-10 win. Dominic Zvada hit the game-winning field goal with 45 seconds left for the Wolverines.

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