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Nic Anderson Prospect Preview
By Charlie Campbell
Career Recap:
In 2023 the Oklahoma Sooners had a dangerous passing attack with a dangerous set of wide receivers. Drake Stoops went from obscurity to getting on a NFL roster last spring, and redshirt freshman Nic Anderson also had a breakout season. Anderson was electric to start the season with eight touchdowns in the first six games. In the back half of the season, defenses did a better job of keeping Anderson from finding pay dirt, but he still produced many big plays, with an average of 21 yards per catch in 2023. He totaled 798 yards on 38 catches with 10 touchdowns.
2024 Season Outlook::
Anderson will see some good quality competition in 2024 as Oklahoma makes its SEC debut. The best games to see Anderson include Texas (Oct.12), Alabama (Nov. 23), and LSU (Nov. 30). With Stoops in the NFL, Anderson should be the No. 1 receiver in the Sooners offense as a redshirt sophomore.
Prospect Summary:
Wide receivers with Anderson’s big, fast, and productive skill set don’t last long in the NFL Draft, and Anderson has special ability for the NFL. Big receivers are a dime a dozen, but what sets Anderson apart from a typical big wide out is he can run. He has explosiveness and special speed for a big receiver to get vertical. Off the ball, Anderson has some explosion and a second gear to accelerate down the field. If defenses don’t account for his speed, he can flat-out burn defenses over the top. He can run by double coverage and create separation from defensive backs by running good routes as he is dangerous on redirection. His speed allows him to generate separation from defensive backs consistently, and he presents a big target downfield. Anderson is fast for his size and his speed reminds me of a big receiver like Mike Evans. Anderson does not look like a Tyreek Hill caliber of elite speed at the NFL level.
Anderson runs well after the catch, showing a second gear to explode downfield, and he has a real nose for the end zone. In the condensed part of the field, Anderson uses his size and shows good body control to make acrobatic catches along the sideline. Anderson could stand to add some strength so he can play more physically with pro cornerbacks. That will help him to win on 50-50 passes and break tackles after the catch.
As a redshirt sophomore, Anderson could stand to improve the consistency of his hands. Showing consistency there and getting stronger will make Anderson a more polished player heading into the next level.
For the NFL, Thomas could fit well as an X receiver who works along the sideline and challenges teams vertically.
2025 NFL Draft Expectations:
Entering the 2024 season, Anderson looks like he has early-round potential for the 2025 NFL Draft.
RELATED LINKS:
NFL Picks - Oct. 30
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Oct. 30
NFL Power Rankings - Oct. 28
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
