2015 NFL Draft Interview: DE Henry Anderson

Henry Anderson – DE (Stanford)

Measurables:  Hgt:  6’6”

Wgt:  294lbs.

Hand:  9 3/4”

Arm:  33 1/2”

PROFILE:  Named First Team All Pac-12 in 2014 and lead the team in tackles for loss (15) and sacks (8.5). In 2013, Honorable Mention All Pac-12 despite missing six games with an MCL sprain in his left knee. Was Second Team All Pac-12 in 2012, starting 14 games and recording 11.5 of his tackles for loss and 4.5 of his sacks after the seventh game of the season. Three time Pac 12 All-Academic First Team. Two-time All 4AAA Region selection while at Woodward High School (GA). Lettered in basketball and track and field. Won state championship and broke school record in shot put.

On what it means to him to have been invited to play in the Senior Bowl

It means a lot. You know, the top players that are representing their schools from around the nation are here. So, coming in here and competing against the best is an honor. It’s exciting.

On the fact that Stanford has had a number of guys go through this draft process in recent years, including fellow defensive lineman Trent Murphy (2014 2^nd Round pick of the Redskins), and whether he has reached out to any of those guys for guidance

Yeah, I still keep in touch with Murph quite a bit. I’ll text him and talk to him on the phone every once in a while. Before coming here, I’d talk to him a little bit just to get a sense of what it is like. Those guys that have been through it and are in the league now, just talking to those guys and getting their advice has been helpful.

On what pieces of advice they have given that he has really taken to heart

You know, they talked about just how busy this week is and how you are constantly going from one thing to the next. And mentally, it can be a little taxing and you’re stressed out because you want to do well in practice and stuff like that. So they just said to kind of relax, don’t over-think things, just go out there and play football. When you’re not practicing or in a meeting room, just kind of let your mind relax.

On what are the one or two big things that he thinks he will bring to an NFL team

I think I’m a guy with a big frame who can stop the run and I think I pass rush a lot better and I have a lot better quickness than guys that are similar body types and similar sizes. I think I am an every down type of player that can defend the run and can also get after the quarterback.

On what couple of things that he thinks perhaps NFL teams might not know about him that he hopes to showcase at the Senior Bowl

I think just the quickness part of it. I think that I’m an underrated pass rusher that a lot of people don’t see. So I think that these one-on-ones that are going to be important for me. I think I had a good start today – knocked some of the rust off. Hopefully in the next couple of days I’ll continue to show my violent hands and my quick feet that have allowed me to get to the quarterback.

On what it has been like working with an NFL staff and what kind of advice he has been given to that point (through Tuesday practice)

Yeah, it’s really cool. My D-Line coach actually recruited me in college to go to Georgia Tech. So, it’s just funny how things come back around. It’s really cool because it’s almost like you are on an NFL team, you have NFL coaches in your meeting rooms coaching you up and teaching you different techniques. So it’s really cool and it’s an interesting experience, for sure.

On the fact that in college he has played in a lot of odd-man fronts and whether he has talked to many NFL teams who run more of a 4-3 defense about where he might fit in those schemes

I don’t know yet – I think I can really play anywhere. This week, I’m playing a DE in a 4-3. I’m comfortable there. I think I can play a DT in a 4-3. Our defense (at Stanford) is technically a 3-4, but a lot of times we were in a nickel package where it’s almost a 4-3. So, I’ll be playing inside (at the Senior Bowl), anywhere from head up on the center to outside on the tackle. I’ve played pretty much everywhere along the D-Line and I’m comfortable at all the positions.

On who was the best offensive lineman he went up against in college and what he may have gained from that experience

We played Notre Dame last year and I went up against Zack Martin, who’s an All-Pro now. Going up against him, I mean it was definitely a challenge, but it kind of made me realize what the top tier NFL talent is like. And it was him, along with Chris Watt, who I think starts on the Chargers now. Going up against those guys helped me understand what it would be like to play in the NFL. He (Martin) goes into the NFL right away and is an All-Pro his rookie year

On what the highlight of his career was at Stanford

Winning the Rose Bowl two years ago against Wisconsin. The season overall was a big success. Minus the one or two losses we had, it was an outstanding season. We beat Oregon at Oregon. That was a really fun game. Ended up coming back and beating UCLA in a close PAC-12 Championship game and then going to the Rose Bowl and playing a physical game against Wisconsin. Coming out on top of that, it was definitely the best experience.