This the first in a three-part series looking at potential 2022 NFL draft picks from the University of Toledo.
The NFL Draft is back, and so too are the Toledo Rockets.
After two years without a player being selected, the University of Toledo will again be mentioned during the primetime event, as safety Tycen Anderson is assured of being picked.
Here is what to know about Anderson and the NFL draft this week.
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 209 pounds
Hometown: Toledo (St. John’s Jesuit)
Projected NFL position: Safety
What you’ll remember about him at UT: Mr. Toledo, as Anderson is affectionately known, was a fixture in the Toledo secondary for five seasons, helping the Rockets to a Mid-American Conference championship as a true freshman and serving as a critical piece in the Rockets’ ascension as one of the conference’s top defenses. The three-time captain was an elite college football player, finding his way onto Bruce Feldman’s 2021 Freaks list, and he backed up his hard work in the classroom as a four-time Academic All-MAC selection who received his undergraduate degree in professional sales and is on track to earn an MBA.
Key stats: At the NFL Combine, Anderson ranked second among safeties in the 40-yard dash, second in the three-cone drill, fourth in the 20-yard shuttle, and eighth in the vertical and broad jump. He improved on some of those numbers at Toledo’s pro day. He was second on the team in tackles in 2019 and 2020. His career stats are impressive: 233 tackles, including nine tackles for loss, two interceptions, 16 pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. Pro Football Focus ranks Anderson as the No. 8 safety and No. 113 overall prospect.
Career development: The hometown kid picked Toledo over offers from Kentucky, Air Force, Bowling Green, and Eastern Kentucky. Anderson stepped on UT’s campus as a ready-made college player, and he proved it by playing in all 14 games as a true freshman, recording 30 tackles and five pass breakups. He had 44 tackles as a sophomore, starting one game, and 84 as a 12-game starter his junior season. During the pandemic-shortened season of 2020, Anderson had 34 tackles and four pass breakups. He developed into an explosive player with size and strength, adequate footwork, and tremendous jumping ability.
His future: The biggest question is when will Anderson be drafted? His stock surged after the Senior Bowl, NFL Combine, and Toledo pro day. Anderson’s size and coverage versatility could send him as high as the third round. His special teams prowess adds to his value. As tight ends become a bigger part of today’s NFL, Anderson’s capacity to shut down players at that position increases areas he can get on the field.
Quote: “Anderson’s size, length, and speed stand out on tape. 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.” — Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
First Published April 27, 2022, 6:39 p.m.
