The word ‘athletic’ is thrown around quite a bit as a buzzword throughout the NFL Draft, but the Falcons may have found a player that embodies that term more than any other prospect in this year’s draft.
With one of their two 2nd round selections, Atlanta drafted Montana State ILB Troy Andersen. However, identifying Andersen as a linebacker doesn’t tell the whole story of a prospect that played three different positions in college—two on the offensive side of the ball.
After amassing 515 yards as a running back en route to being named the Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year, Andersen moved under center in 2018 and was named first-team All-Big Sky before ultimately settling in at the linebacker position. He continued to display his unique athletic ability in 2021 by finishing 2nd in the FCS with 147 tackles and running a 4.42 40-yard dash in the pre-draft process. Bobcats head coach Brent Vigen, who took over prior to 2021, joined 92.9 The Game this morning to praise the “amazing athlete” that Andersen is.
“Those physical traits are rare. Beyond that though, the intangibles that he brings are off the charts. He’s extremely intelligent. He certainly has that attitude that he’ll do whatever it takes, not only for the team, but from a work ethic perspective, to make him his very best. Playing here, he could’ve rested on talent alone but he didn’t do that. He worked so hard and he was an amazing leader for us," Vigen told Chris & Beau.
Asked about a possible comparison for Andersen, Vigen admitted that while it may be a stretch, there are similarities between the Falcons’ newest linebacker and Brian Urlacher’s early days as a newcomer out of New Mexico.
While the 6-4, 245 pound linebacker may not be a finished product, Vigen told Chris & Beau that it’s only a matter of time.
“He’s an unfinished product, but I also think [NFL teams] feel like getting to that finished state isn’t too far away because of who he is as a worker, how intelligent he is coupled with his amazing ability,” Vigen said.
The Falcons picked up former Tennessee Titan Rahsaan Evans in free agency at the linebacker position, but if Andersen can adjust to the next level at a rapid rate, he could see the field sooner rather than later.
