If the Falcons' second-round pick Troy Andersen is even half the player that he’s being compared to, then Atlanta got a steal with the 58th overall pick.
During his career at Montana State, Andersen not only spent time in opposing backfields with 10.5 sacks but also in his own backfield while lining up at both running back and quarterback. With a unique blend of athleticism and versatility, CBS Sports draft analyst Emory Hunt told the Midday Show on 92.9 The Game that Andersen has all the same tools that Brian Urlacher had as a prospect coming out of New Mexico.
“He’s probably the closest thing we’ve seen to Brian Urlacher since Brian Urlacher, and I feel like that’s the type of impact player he can be and that’s why he went so high in the draft,” Hunt said.
Hunt isn’t the only one who sees the comparison. Andersen’s head coach for his senior season at Montana State, Brent Vigen, acknowledged that it’s a bit of a bold prediction, but noted that the physical comparisons can’t be ignored.
In addition to his spot on the Lobo's defense, the longtime Chicago Bear was a weapon as a punt returner and even caught six touchdowns during his college career. As for Andersen, the Falcons’ new linebacker earned conference honors as a running back, quarterback and linebacker and was the FCS ADA National Defensive Player of the Year in 2021. Bouncing back from a knee injury and the rust associated with the lack of a season in 2020, Andersen racked up 147 tackles last year while leading the Bobcats to an appearance in the FCS National Title game.
Andersen ran a 4.42 in the pre-draft process which is faster than Urlacher’s 4.57 in 2000, but Andersen is over 20 pounds lighter. According to a formula that assesses prospects’ measurables heading into the draft, Andersen scored a perfect 10 out of a possible 10.
It’s unrealistic to expect Andersen to become Brian Urlacher, but the fact that the comparison is out there should excite Falcons fans that have been waiting for a game-changer on the defensive side of the ball.