Drew Sanders shares feedback from NFL teams, pre-draft experience
Drew Sanders‘ life is about to change, as the former Alabama and Arkansas defender will make one NFL team supremely happy later in April.
Ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft, the star defender is going through the wringer with professional franchises, as they examine and vet him at events like the NFL Combine and Arkansas’ Pro Day. Speaking with the media, Sanders explained what feedback he’s been hearing from teams throughout his pre-draft experience.
“Really just kind of a lack of experience at the position, so you know I kind of have some experience issues there, where it’s like maybe reading something or something like that,” stated Sanders.
Still, reporters noticed that NFL teams who watched Sanders perform walked away impressed, continually giving the defender his props throughout his workout. The former Arkansas star was pleased about that, giving him a boost of confidence.
“It’s pretty good feedback,” added Sanders. “I mean, you’re going to be happy about that, and it felt pretty good.”
Moreover, as you prepare for the NFL Draft, it’s hard to block out the noise sometimes. The experts, the mock drafts, the projections and everything in-between. While it may have weighed heavy on his mind in the past, Sanders has blocked it all out, letting the chips fall where they may.
“I mean, you can look at that stuff, of course I was looking at that in the beginning, kind of getting exciting about it,” explained Sanders. “Just kind of stopped. Just kind of quit kind of you know, focusing on that.
“That’s really, it’s in God’s hands right now, I can’t really change too much. Why worry about it when you can’t really affect it that much.”
Sanders earned All-SEC first-team honors with the Hogs in 2022, which was his first and only year in Fayetteville. Leading the Razorbacks defense with 9.5 sacks, Sanders also accumulated 103 tackles, up from 24 last year with the Tide.
Sanders was a five-star prospect coming out of Ryan (Denton) High School in Texas in the 2020 class. He was the No. 27 overall prospect and the No. 6 linebacker in the nation, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
Regardless of the ceilings people have put on Drew Sanders, he’s continually played well above them. One NFL franchise will be elated to have him join their squad in 2023, and we’ll find out who gets the privilege later this month.