This weekend’s college football schedule had all the makings of a classic and, for as much as fans crave all the drama, NFL scouts likely had these dates circled on their calendars, too. It’s the high-profile matchups — Top 25 showdowns, drag-’em-out conference games in October and November — that form the bulk of in-season scouting reports for the draft.
So, what did we learn Saturday? And how does it all fit within the context of the 2023 prospect class as a whole? NFL Draft expert Nick Baumgardner and NFL Draft editor Chris Burke sat down to discuss the key takeaways.
Chris Burke: There were 101 points (not a typo) scored in Tennessee’s upset of Alabama, so we need to talk about the offenses. But I actually want to start on the other side of the ball. Will Anderson Jr. entered this season as the consensus top non-QB prospect in college football. Saturday, the Vols offense mostly held him in check (three tackles, no sacks). Seven games into Anderson’s season, is he still all we thought he would be or does a day like this expose flaws?
Nick Baumgardner: In terms of the full picture, we have to remember that Anderson basically saved Alabama last week in a near-loss against Texas A&M (10 pressures, five QB hits). His pressure numbers aren’t running at the same pace as last year, but he’s still making an impact. Even Saturday, Hendon Hooker’s first interception in forever came as a result of pressure created by Anderson.
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