Arkansas junior linebacker Drew Sanders is entering the 2023 NFL Draft, he announced via Twitter on Tuesday. Here’s what it’s worthwhile to know:
- Sanders will skip the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 28 and go to California this week to start out training for the NFL mix, per ESPN.
- In his latest mock draft, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler projects Sanders to go the Giants with the No. 24 pick.
- Sanders led the Hogs in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks and compelled fumbles this 12 months. He’s tied for third within the SEC in tackles and is first in sacks.
— Drew Sanders (@Drew_16Sanders) December 6, 2022
Backstory
A former five-star recruit at Alabama, Sanders transferred to Arkansas and had a profession 12 months. He played in 24 games over two seasons at Alabama, recording 33 tackles. He missed three games in 2021 attributable to a hand injury.
“Football isn’t a lifetime sport; it’s a once-in-a-lifetime sport,” Sanders told ESPN. “I’ve enjoyed playing in college. It’s at all times been a dream for me to play within the NFL, ever since I can remember. There’s a possibility for me to take, and I would like to take it.”
Scouting report
Sanders is a formidable size/speed athlete. The Razorbacks have used him as each a mike linebacker and pass rusher, and he finished his breakout season with 103 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. Sanders needs to enhance his take-on skills and cut down on the wasted steps, but he’s a young player with a ton of talent. – Brugler
Required reading
(Photo: Nelson Chenault / USA Today)
