Two NFL draft prospects who are often described as “generational talents” might seem like opposites, counterpoints. One plays defense, at a premium position, and his main focus is terrorizing quarterbacks. He starred for a traditional college power that continually ranks among the country’s top teams. The other plays offense, at a position that’s perpetually discounted in the modern NFL, and his focus centers on taking pressure off quarterbacks. He starred for a traditional college power that’s going through the lean years, scuttling back toward pinnacles this program hasn’t reached in nearly two decades.
And yet, the defensive player, edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. of Alabama, and the offensive player, running back Bijan Robinson of Texas, share far more in common than anyone might expect. In fact, their respective paths to being “generational talents” started in the same place, with the same player.
That’s right. While growing up in Georgia, Anderson played running back, trucking youth opponents even with footballs tucked under his arm. He wore No. 28 because of one back in particular, an Oklahoma star who ran like a linebacker (meaning into and right through defenders). When Anderson thinks of generational talents, he starts there, with Adrian Peterson. “I was an outside kid, for real,” he says in an interview with Sports Illustrated. “But that was the one dude I tried to be like.”
