Nick Anderson: Path To The NFL Draft

By Simon Carroll

Everyone loves a good fairytale. It begins with ‘once upon a time’ – a young underdog protagonist with big dreams that others are quick to scorn. Then there’s the plot; the obstacles and adversity our hero or heroine encounters in their pursuit of what they desire. And finally, we have ‘the happy ever after’ – the achievement of everything they aspired to as they ride off into the sunset.

For Tulane linebacker Nick Anderson, his collegiate career followed a similar storyline, and ended about as well as he ever could have hoped for. But the final chapter of his story hasn’t been written yet. The hard-hitting leader of the Green Wave defense sat down with Simon Carroll to discuss his path to the NFL Draft:

High Standards

Vicksburg, Mississippi, is a small city to the west of Jackson, sat by the Mississippi river that divides the Magnolia State from Louisiana. Famous for being the site of one of the key battles of the Civil War, it has a modest population of just 24,000 residents. But despite its small stature, it punches above its weight when it comes to producing NFL football stars. Louis Green (Broncos), Brad Leggett (Seahawks), Michael Myers (Bengals), DeMichael Harris (Colts), Rod Coleman (Falcons) and Malcolm Butler (Patriots) all hailed from these parts – and growing up with his mother and grandparents, a young Nicholas Anderson had similar ambitions:

“I started playing football when I was six years old – playing for a little league team called the Vicksburg Packers. Which naturally meant that the Green Bay Packers were my childhood team. And I literally played all over the field; the way my body grew, I went from offensive line, to playing in the backfield some, before finding a home at linebacker. And I loved playing on defense – the physicality of my position, hitting people on every play. It shaped my career from that moment.”

As much as Anderson was dedicated to football, he was fully aware that his ability to play it was dependent on being similarly dedicated in the classroom. His mother Emmarie held high standards when it came to her son’s education.

“My freshman year of high school, I was in a Spanish class. And I had never made a B in my entire time at school – my mom had always maintained that A’s were the standard in her household, and it was the standard I must achieve to stay on the football field. So I made a B+ in Spanish, and I went straight to the teacher and asked her if there was any way I could take some extra work and turn it into an A. She agreed, let me re-do some assignments, and boosted me up to an A. But my mom had been checking the grades! I was called into a conference with my teacher. My mom was there, and made my teacher change it back! It was for two reasons; firstly, a B+ was what I had earned. But it was also a lesson for me, to never ask for anything you didn’t deserve – to take it on the chin and move on. She took me off the team that Spring semester, just when we had a new coaching staff and I looked to become a starter on the varsity team. It set me back a bit, but to this day I thank her for it. It taught me just how important academics are.”

"The Dream Was To Play On The Biggest Stage Possible"

Thanks to a strong support system, Nick Anderson learnt there were no shortcuts from an early age. He jokes that his Spanish right now is probably about a B+ still, but there’s no doubt he has a strong grasp of priorities, and what it takes to build a solid foundation for success. That mindset saw him become a dominant linebacker in his final two years at Vicksburg High School, where Anderson recorded more than 250 tackles including thirty for a loss. Nick claims that it was the culmination of a seed his mother had planted from an early age:

“I was striving for this from as early as middle school. Part of the reason my mom held me to such a high standard academically is because she knew that she couldn’t pay for me to attend college. So I understood that, in order for me to get an education, I would need to get a scholarship. I didn’t want grades being a problem if my football gave me that opportunity. And sure enough after that junior year, I started getting attention.”

The attention, however, wasn’t quite to the level that Anderson thought he deserved. Far from being downbeat, we see the first instance of Nick’s trademark resilience as he re-writes the plot of the fairytale – with no intention of adjusting the ending:

“I yearned for that big time Division 1 school to call me and offer me an opportunity, but it never came. I had a lot of offers from FCS schools which I consider myself privileged and grateful for; after all, the FCS sends a lot of talent to the NFL each year. But I grew up in Mississippi – SEC Country. The dream was to play on the biggest stage possible, the FBS – and I knew I had the talent. So I took a different route, bet on myself. I really fell in love with the coaches at Jones College, and they had a history of sending guys to D1. A lot of people questioned my decision, because I had the grades. But I prayed on it, took the gamble, and it paid off.”

Finishing School

Junior College, or ‘JuCo’ as it is better known, is usually used as a finishing school for high school football stars looking to improve their grades and make themselves academically eligible for a college scholarship. But for Nick Anderson, the only item on the curriculum was showing Division 1 scouts what they had missed out on. In one season at Jones County, Anderson is on a vendetta, racking up 74 tackles (58 solo), two sacks and one forced fumble. The linebacker helps the Bobcats to the MACJC Championship Game and a bowl win. And sure enough, FBS programs took notice. The script edit had done the trick:

“It couldn’t have gone better for me at Jones County. I’ll forever be grateful for the opportunity they gave me. I had some interest, and it eventually came down to South Alabama, Tulane, and Ole Miss. The Rebels messed me around, wanting me to wait for another commitment. So I was kinda headed to South Alabama, but then I took a visit to New Orleans and everything changed.”

The Big Easy has been known to have that effect on people. But for Anderson, it was a combination of everything that made Tulane University the perfect home:

“I just fell in love with New Orleans. Fell in love with the culture down here – not just the city, but the culture of the football program under Coach Willie Fritz. I saw the genuine relationships between the players and staff, appreciated the vibe around the team. I admired the university from an academic standpoint – I really felt at home from day one down here. And I knew that I would have the opportunity to contribute immediately, and be a part of something special. When it came down to it, it was an easy decision: I decided to roll with the Green Wave.”

Roll Wave

New helmet, same results; after using the first year to find his feet in a rotational role, Nick Anderson becomes an integral part of the Green Wave defense for the next three seasons. He is quick to credit his teammates, particularly his fellow linebackers, for developing a culture he could thrive in:

“I was one of four linebackers in that rotation, and we were a great group. We had a family bond; it was one of the main things that made me really love my time at Tulane. Under the leadership of Coach Mike Mutz and the guys before us – Nico Farley, Zach Harris, Ray John; they were all great people, leaders and football players that helped set the standard. With that structure, 2020 was the season that really allowed me to cement myself as a top contributor on that defense. Every play was an opportunity: I just wanted to make a name for myself.”

2021 would be a true test of the environment and culture that Anderson thrived in at Tulane, as the linebacker suffered some significant off-the-field adversity:

“After the success, the accolades of the 2020 season, I was fully locked in. I was grinding hard in the offseason, thinking about nothing but football. Then Hurricane Ida hit and changed everything. We were told to pack for the weekend; we ended up staying in Birmingham for three weeks. So that set us back as a team, affected our schedule. But that was just the beginning of it; the second day I’m out there in Alabama, I get a phone call. My sister had been in a car crash and they didn’t think she would make it. It really hit me hard; I couldn’t go home to see her because of the hurricane. But I leant heavily on my support network, my teammates, and they helped me to get through it and encouraged me to stay focused. And I did – we went over to Oklahoma in Week 1 and I had eight tackles in that game, two for a loss. I dedicated that sixty minutes to my sister – I had no idea if she’d still be alive when I got off that field. But God worked it out, and I’m pleased to say she’s made a full recovery.”

Overcoming Adversity

2021 was a season of frustration for both Nick Anderson and the Tulane football team. Aside from the personal trauma, Anderson broke his fibula against Ole Miss, sidelining him for four weeks. The Green Wave won just two games all season, with half of their ten losses being by one score. 

“It was just one thing after another that year, on top of dealing with the losses each and every week. But that forced month off, it showed me how quickly football can be taken from you. It recentred my focus on enjoying every moment on that field that God provides. Seizing each opportunity. I went from having surgery to making 11 tackles against SMU four weeks later. It was a tough season, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Whilst everything that could go wrong, DID go wrong in 2021, Nick freely admits that it was a price worth paying for how his final year at Tulane played out.

“We set the tone last year in January. Us four captains; me, Sincere (Haynesworth), Dorian (Williams) and Michael Pratt just got together and set a standard. We were gonna prove all the doubters wrong, erase all the mistakes of the previous year, and give the fans the season they deserved. 2021 wasn’t us; we weren’t putting up with that bullcrap again. The slate was wiped clean, and the refocus began through all the offseason workouts.”

Building Success

2022 will go down as one of the greatest seasons in the history of Tulane football. The team won 12 games last year – the most ever in a single season since the program was founded back in 1893. The Green Wave went on to not only win the American Athletic Conference, but also shocked USC in the Cotton Bowl. For Nick Anderson, the seeds of that success were sown by a core group of veterans, and a coaching staff that trusted them:

“A big reason for that turnaround was having a player-led team. It felt like the first time during my career here that we had leaders in every position, great captains that knew how to bring players together. And the coaches had trust in us to set the culture and have a strong influence on the destiny of this program. I also want to give credit to the hiring of Kurt Hester, our strength and conditioning coach. He’s a dynamic character, and the missing piece that allowed Tulane to get over the hump. He brought a mentality of brotherhood and family, and really solidified the team-first mantra of the program. Most strength and conditioning coaches come in and say ‘we gotta get stronger, get faster. Coach Hester said ‘we gotta be a family’. He might go unnoticed from the outside, but that man deserves his flowers.”

This isn’t the first time Kurt Hester has been mentioned to me this draft season; LA Tech tight end Griffin Hebert also praises the coach for his ability to galvanise individuals and teams. But i’m sure that Coach Hester would agree that, If anyone deserves a bouquet based on last year’s performance, it’s Anderson. The linebacker more than doubled his tackles from the previous season as The Green Wave went from strength to strength. For those that haven’t watched the Cotton Bowl, I’d suggest you do so immediately. But suffice to say that, in a pulsating matchup, the key moment was the Tulane defense forcing a safety with minutes left on the clock. Nick, searing through the line of scrimmage, applied the finishing touches to the sack of Caleb Williams that swung the game in Tulane’s favour.

“It was surreal. Once we lined up, we told each other ‘it’s time to switch the momentum’. And that play, Noah Taliancich, Patrick Jenkins, they did an awesome job opening that hole up, securing the ball carrier. And I just did my job cleaning it up. It was an amazing moment that took eleven guys to make it happen. But it definitely feels good to know I played a small role in flipping a game that will go down in history.”

Nick Anderson: A Man Of Character

Mom Emmarie can be proud of raising such a humble young man, but Nick Anderson’s quickness to share praise doesn’t paint a real picture of the dominant force he was at Tulane. The linebacker leaves Yulman Stadium with almost THREE HUNDRED tackles under his belt. A man who has persevered through the hard times and led through the good, Anderson is confident about his ability. But he spends a modest chunk of our time together talking about others; how head coach Willie Fritz develops people both on and off the field, how linebacker coach Mike Mutz is a role model and a mentor, and how the veterans on the team in his early years helped him become a leader himself.

Football is the immediate future for Anderson, of that there is no doubt. And yet, his degree in Homeland Security offers him a path into government once he hangs his cleats up, whenever that may be. It’s something his family has a history in, and he speaks passionately about helping others. Indeed, as part of his education Nick has become deeply interested in Emergency Planning Proportion, a branch of security that helps those most affected by natural disasters. Considering New Orleans is where he has called home the last four years, it shows a remarkable sensitivity to the fragility of life. Anderson is very aware that football has given him an education – and now, that education can allow him to give something back to society.

But all of that can wait. For now, the football fairytale looks to enter the final chapter.

"My Path Has Never Been Straightforward"

For many draft prospects, the last few weeks have involved attending one of the showcase games that allow NFL Scouts an opportunity to meet the talent. But Unfortunately Nick Anderson never received a call – something he puts down to his size. Considering how diverse the professional game is in the modern era, it seems almost laughable a prospect with Anderson’s production could be overlooked – particularly when he measures in favourably against Hall of Famers Zach Thomas and Sam Mills. Despite seeing a handful of his teammates invited to these occasions, Anderson, predictably, demonstrates more pride than jealousy:

“I’m a big believer in God having a plan for you, what you need, and when you need it. I’m human, and at times it can be discouraging. But my path has never been straightforward, and it’s always worked out. I can’t wait to see what he has in store for me. I love to see my teammates flourishing too; I love to see Dorian balling out at the Senior Bowl. To see Tyjae go viral! Every day he’s doing his thing. Macon Clark at the NFLPA Bowl, Deuce Watts at the Hula Bowl, it’s amazing to see. I know how hard those guys have worked too – I wasn’t the only one grinding. I’ll never get so focused on myself to forget what my brothers have sacrificed or be envious of what they’ve achieved.”

All Eyes On The NFL Draft

Coach Fritz once referred to Nick Anderson as the ‘heartbeat’ of the Tulane defense. Being overlooked for a showcase bowl game doesn’t detract from what he has achieved on a football field, and the tape will ultimately show that. For now though, Anderson has one last opportunity to remind the NFL what they seem to be trying to ignore – at his pro day on March 16th. Working out with Kurt Hester, Anderson appears to be trusting the process that has taken him this far, and he hopes to put on a show when the talent evaluators head to New Orleans:

“Coach Hester knows my body, and knows how to get it ready for the NFL. I’ve felt amazing all year and I owe it all to him. He’s well respected in NFL circles and he’s flipped the training to get ready for it. We’re big on recovery, being smart. I’ll be physically ready for those drills, show I’ve got what it takes from that perspective. But then, I want them to know what kind of character I am – a man who leads, builds locker room camaraderie, is about the team and nothing else. It’s easy for all prospects to say, but I’ve shown it at Tulane, and I live it every day. I’m an asset on and off the field.”

Nick doesn’t even need to be asked what scouts will question when they come to town. He addresses the size concerns like he’s heard it all before.

“My height gives me natural leverage other linebackers don’t have. I can bend, I’m quick, and I can strike people with speed and physicality. Power has never been a problem in my game. I’m intelligent, quick to diagnose what’s in front of me, and go make a play. Put that all together, and there’s not a lot of guys who can do what I do.”

Anyone who questions whether Nick Anderson can play this game needs to just take one look at the stats. 283 tackles. 29 tackles for a loss. 8.5 sacks. All in just 46 games. But for a man who just capped his collegiate career with the biggest win in Tulane’s history, Anderson isn’t afraid to admit just how big draft weekend is, and where becoming a professional football player will rank in the list of his achivements:

“Oh man. It’s going to be emotional. The work I’ve put in, the path i’ve been down. The opportunity to fulfil God’s ambition for me and exalting him on a national platform. To be a role model for him and make people think ‘If he can do it for a kid from Vicksburg Mississippi, he can do it for me’. Sometimes the dream keeps me awake at night. I’m gonna enjoy the weekend with my friends and family, then I’m ready to work.”

Everyone loves a fairytale. Roll Wave, Nick. Roll Wave.

Mock Draft

SIMON CARROLL

HEAD OF CFB/NFL DRAFT CONTENT

PREVIOUSLY THE FOUNDER OF NFL DRAFT UK, SIMON HAS BEEN COVERING COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND THE NFL DRAFT SINCE 2009. BASED IN MANCHESTER, SIMON IS ALSO CO-CREATOR & WEEKLY GUEST OF THE COLLAPSING POCKET PODCAST.

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A huge thank you to Nick for taking the time to talk to us. Everyone at The Touchown wishes him well in his future career.