Drew Sanders needed one season at Arkansas to make a name for himself.
And he heard it called Friday in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The transfer linebacker was selected with the 67th overall pick of the Denver Broncos.
Sanders is the first Arkansas linebacker to be drafted since Dre Greenlaw (San Francisco 49ers) in 2019 and second since 2015. He pushes the Razorbacks’ string of consecutive drafts with a player taken to 28.
A Dallas Cowboys fan growing up in Texas, Sanders said at Arkansas’ Pro Day last month, he finished his lone season with the Razorbacks as the first Arkansas linebacker to pick up a first-team All-America nod from The Associated Press since Ronnie Caveness in 1964. He had 103 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks, and was a finalist for the Butkus Award.
Sanders had six 10-plus-tackle games, including a career-high 16 at Mississippi State, and 3-plus tackles for loss against South Carolina and Liberty. He intercepted 1 pass vs. Ole Miss, broke up 5 passes and forced 3 fumbles.
Analyst Lance Zierlein of NFL.com wrote prior to the draft that Sanders holds Pro Bowl upside.
“He plays with good technique in take-ons and has plenty of pursuit range, but he’s still finding his footing with his run fits and tackle consistency,” he wrote. “He’s a tough out for interior protection as a blitzing linebacker and has natural rush talent to hunt quarterbacks off the edge.
“Sanders’ athletic gifts, versatility and toughness could help him become a highly impactful playmaker.”
Dave Henigan, who coached Sanders in high school at Denton (Texas) Ryan, told WholeHogSports last August that the linebacker is a “generational player” and would have a shot at an NFL career if he stayed healthy. Sanders was a 5-star athlete coming out of high school.
At Alabama, he had 33 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 pass breakups and 5 quarterback hurries in 24 games.
“I don’t have any doubt he’s going to be a great one,” Henigan said. “I’ve been around some guys that have played in the NFL, coached some guys, but he’s different. The combination of size and speed and strength, particularly in high school, I’ve not seen many guys like that.
“I mean, all the things you want to coach, Drew has all those things.”