Will Anderson names Bijan Robinson as toughest player he faced in college

If you’re asking an edge rusher the toughest player they went up against in college, you would expect an offensive lineman to be the answer. Especially Alabama‘s Will Anderson, going up against SEC tackles on a weekly basis. The conference produces NFL Draft picks at the position like nobody’s business.

Not Anderson, though. He gave a different type of answer, saying Texas running back Bijan Robinson was the toughest matchup of his three-year college career. Robinson’s elusiveness and ability to break tackles seemingly left an impression on Anderson

“Bijan Robinson, the running back from Texas,” Anderson said. “He’s a big back. We had to gang-tackle him, get all hats to the ball. He was going to break a few tackles. We had to tackle the right way. But he’s probably the toughest person I faced in college football.”

Some high compliments of Robinson coming from Anderson. The SEC is not exactly void of quality skill position players either. Anderson faced off against two-time national champion Georgia a few times throughout his career. Countless other players who are or will be in the league lined up against No. 31.

Anderson only saw Robinson once, with Alabama heading to Austin this past September for one of the nonconference games of the season. Robinson held in check from a statistical standpoint, with Robinson only having 57 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.

The Alabama pass rusher had a better day, having five tackles, 2.0 tackles for a loss, and a sack. A win traveled back to Tuscaloosa with Anderson as well, one he and Robinson most likely care about the most.

Will Anderson, Bijan Robinson project as first-round picks

Unfortunately for Anderson, his battles against Robinson are likely to continue in the NFL. Both are projected to be in the first round this upcoming April. The former is projected to be one of the first non-quarterbacks selected while there are questions surrounding Robinson.

A running back being picked in the first round has become extremely rare. The positional value is just not there, with many making Super Bowl runs paying their main bell cow low salaries. Robinson is thought to be a possible exception.

If any NFL team was looking for a reason to pull the trigger and draft Robinson, this praise from Anderson could be enough. If a potential top-three pick is singing the praises of somebody unprompted, they have to be a special player.