Why did Drew Sanders transfer from Alabama? Exploring the journey of top 2023 NFL Draft prospect

Former Alabama Crimson Tide Drew Sanders left one of the best American football programs in the country because of the proximity to home that Arkansas assures. He saw an opportunity in how the Razorbacks might use him.

Sanders played outside linebacker at Alabama but wanted to move inside. He saw the production Arkansas' linebackers had and the way the staff used them, and it looked like a match for how he wanted to play.

Sanders' transfer meant Arkansas found the perfect candidate to make up for Hayden Henry and Drew Morgan's losses. Placing Sanders alongside returning star Bumper Pool gave Arkansas a considerable boost in the middle of its defense.

Drew Sanders' strengths

Drew Sanders had an incredible final season with the University of Arkansas, vindicating his decision to switch schools. He had 9.5 sacks, 103 tackles, 13.5 TFLs, one interception, three forced fumbles and five pass deflections. His season earned him first-team All-SEC honors and revitalized his stock as an NFL draft prospect.

Sanders has tremendous upside regarding the linebacker position, and his stock couldn't have been higher than it currently is. He passed the eye test with his lean frame and excellent overall reach. He’s also a borderline elite athlete for his size.

Sanders also has an excellent initial burst and long-track explosiveness when triggering on plays. He can quickly cover ground and close gaps from behind when pursuing laterally. He has the talent to turn it up a notch at the professional level, and a playoff contender could use a player like him on their roster.

Drew Sanders' weakness

Sanders' biggest weakness is his playing strength, as he needs to gain the size most NFL-ready linebackers possess. His frame is very light relative to his height and length, which contributes to lacking play strength. He can be easily outmuscled by roaming offensive linemen in space and frequently needs help deconstructing blocks.

Due to this, Sanders might suffer delays when fighting through congestion to track plays laterally. Blocks can obstruct his path, delay his pursuit and ultimately render him out of position. Drew Sanders would be better off adding a few pounds to his physique, as that might do wonders in remedying his only major flaw coming out of college.

What is Drew Sanders' draft projection?

The linebacker class for the 2023 NFL Draft is one of the weakest in recent years, as other defensive positions have more solid prospects. As such, you would be hard-pressed to find a better prospect at LB than Drew Sanders.

Hence, the University of Arkansas LB will likely be drafted either in the late first round or early second round of the draft. However, with proper development, the team that drafts him will get a fantastic prospect and a future All-Pro selection at his position.