Jason Candle has a message for NFL general managers: Draft Tycen Anderson.
You won’t regret it, according to the Toledo head coach.
“That’s a high character guy who does all the little things necessary to help himself be a great player. Those things will lead to him being a great pro, too,” Candle said.
“The videotape speaks for itself, obviously. But he’s a guy you want around your organization. He’s a guy you want in your locker room. He’s a leader. He’s a guy that’s accountable for his actions and does what’s required of him to be a good teammate. He goes above and beyond to make sure that everybody is doing what they need to be doing to make the organization better.”
On Monday, Anderson will get his latest audition in front of NFL scouts at Toledo’s pro day. At the NFL scouting combine, all the 6-foot-2, 209-pound safety did was have the 29th-best (out of 788) Relative Athletic Score at his position since 1987.
Anderson’s numbers in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump, 20-yard shuttle, and three-cone drill were all in the top eight among safeties. He ran a 4.36 40 (tied for second), had a 35.5-inch vertical (eighth), a broad jump of 10 feet, 3 inches (tied for eighth), completed the shuttle in 4.28 seconds (fourth), and the cone drill in 6.64 seconds (second).
“The experience was great being around the best of the best,” Anderson said. “Just getting to know those dudes, laughing with them, joking with them. It was a relaxed weekend, but it was a great weekend. I’m just super excited about what I did and what I accomplished because I know I did something special.”
Monday will be an old hat for the former St. John’s Jesuit standout. Anderson first became acclimated with the NFL draft process in February at the Senior Bowl, where he met with all 32 teams. A good performance at pro day could solidify his status as a third or fourth-round pick.
“Anderson’s size, length, and speed stand out on tape,” NFL analyst Lance Zierlein wrote in Anderson’s combine bio. “He’s a determined run supporter who plays with adequate block take-on and play strength near the line of scrimmage. He’s a rangy, long tackler with the ability to short-circuit outside runners. Anderson has the potential to handle coverage underneath but might not have the instincts or ball skills to handle additional coverage duties. He has the ability to fit as a backup down safety with upside.”
In 51 career games at Toledo, Anderson, who was integral as a true freshman on a team that won the Mid-American Conference championship, had 233 tackles, including nine tackles for loss and two sacks, two interceptions, 16 passes defended, and two forced fumbles. The two-time captain was first-team All-MAC in 2021 and second team in 2020.
Prior to the combine, Anderson worked out at XPE Sports in Fort Lauderdale. He returned to Toledo after the combine, working out with long-time personal trainer Brandon Carter of Elite Academy Athletics and UT strength and conditioning coach Brad Bichey.
“Without them, I wouldn’t be here,” Anderson said.
Talent gets players to the NFL, but staying power often comes in the form of being in a good situation and luck. Anderson is well on the way to having his NFL dreams realized, but he’s expecting to improve his stock. There’s no satisfaction, not after coming this far and being on the doorstep of the pinnacle of the sport.
The hometown Rocket has a lunch date at the Fetterman Training Center Monday afternoon that will ripple through the months of March and April.
“Honestly, I don’t really have a set goal,” Anderson said. “I know things are for sure going to change. I was a later round draft pick until [the combine]. With me doing as good as I did, my draft stock will go in the right direction. Some team is going to call me, and I’m going to work my butt off and do great things.”
First Published March 20, 2022, 3:40 p.m.
