A transfer from Alabama. Drew Sanders presents some decent upside as a prospect. Sanders played more as an edge rusher at Alabama before moving back to a more 4-3 OLB at Arkansas. He has great size and movement ability to play in a half-field system, and his youth could make him a very intriguing option for an NFL team looking to upgrade their linebacker corps.
Drew Sanders
4-3 OLB – Arkansas Razorbacks
HT: 6043
WT: 235
WING: 7658
ARM: 3218
HAND: 968
DOB: 12/31/2001
Year: Super Sophomore
High School: Ryan (Denton, TX)
HS Rating: 5-star (0.9896)
Projected Draft Grade: Future Starter
Projection: 2nd/3rd Round
There is a ton of upside to Drew Sanders game and that’s the entire reason he’s being projected so high. He’s only been playing the linebacker position for a season and still has a ton to learn about how he see’s the field, how he processes information, and what his role is. That means that he’s still moldable, which teams can be very attracted to.
Had a nagging hand injury throughout 2021 that forced him to miss a lot of snaps and play a limited role. Missed the Combine with a hamstring injury.
Drew Sanders’ scouting report
Athletic Ability (30)
Speed/Athleticism: 20
- Speed (6.5/8) – Very good athlete, that’s evident on tape immediately.
- Lateral Quickness (5.5/7) – Shows solid lateral quickness and changes direction well.
- Body Control (3.5/5) – Fairly good body control. Changes direction pretty well.
Strength/Power: 10
- Upper Body Strength (2/3) – Decent upper body strength. Flashes the ability to win against offensive linemen, but isn’t consistent getting off of blocks.
- Lower Body Strength (2/3) – Flashes some solid explosion and can generate some power from his lower body.
- Brute Power (2/4) – Not really a brute. More of a finesse player who can deliver a blow.
Defending Ability (40)
Tackling/Pursuit: 15
- Tackling Ability (7/8) – Very solid tackler. Struggles to close effectively, but does a good job wrapping up and delivering some punishment.
- Pursuit Angles (4.5/7) – Takes decent pursuit angles. Works better to the boundary than he does working inside of the box.
Blitz Ability: 10
- Blitz Timing (2.5/5) – I don’t see a lot of good blitz timing. Almost always has to work through traffic.
- Pass Rushing Ability (4/5) – Very solid blitzer. Has tools to be a decent pass rusher. Knows how to use his hands and can get leverage to create bad spots for the offensive lineman to be placed into. Still can get overpowered against offensive tackles and has a lot of bad reps.
Coverage Ability: 15
- Space Defending (3/5) – Still not terribly consistent in space. Can be too aggressive at times and moves himself right out of the play.
- Man Coverage (2/5) – Still more of a liability in man coverage. Wasn’t asked to do it often.
- Zone Coverage (3.5/5) – Tends to be too grabby in coverage. Settles into his zone well. Shows the ability to read and react to receivers entering his zone.
Intel/Instincts (25)
Football IQ: 10
- Play Recognition (3/5) – Play recognition is good, not great.
- Understanding of Concepts (3/5) – Understands how to stay disciplined at times. Other times, he’s leaving his assignment.
Instincts: 15
- Natural Instincts (6.5/10) – Instincts flash at times, but just are not consistent. Still developing his skillset at the linebacker position.
- Consistency (2.5/5) – Consistently inconsistent so far.
Overall: (73) – 5th/7th Round
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