Cory Anderson

The former defensive end is a punishing drive blocker with good balance and quick feet to clear out the rush lanes. He was rarely used as a running back, but showed adequate pass-catching ability. With his size and strength, Anderson was one of the reasons for the success of the Volunteers' rushing attack. Anderson did not play football until his senior year at Austin-East High School, but he quickly established himself as one of the top prep players in state in 2000. He competed as a linebacker, tight end and fullback, helping the team to a 10-3 record and Class 2A quarterfinal berth, recording 111 tackles, 17 tackles for losses and seven sacks while also returning one interception for a touchdown from the middle linebacker position. On offense, he ran for 192 yards and caught four passes for 29 yards while scoring six total touchdowns. Anderson chose to focus on basketball his sophomore and junior years and split time between both the hoops and gridiron teams as a senior. He averaged 13 points per game as a senior. Anderson originally enrolled at Tennessee in 2001, but failed to meet NCAA academic requirements. He returned to the team as a walk-on defensive end, redshirting in 2002. Anderson was part of the team's depth at linebacker entering the 2003 campaign, but shifted to defensive end, recording three solo tackles with three stops for losses of a total of eight yards and a quarterback pressure in six games. He shifted to fullback in 2004, starting 12 of 13 games. Anderson rushed for 53 yards and a touchdown on five carries (10.6-yard average) and caught 17 passes for 157 yards (9.2 avg) and a pair of scores. He lined up as the starting fullback in 8 of 11 contests in 2005. He carried seven times for 20 yards, caught 14 passes for 147 yards (10.5 avg) and posted one solo tackle. Used mostly for blocking purposes as a senior, he started only 6 of 12 games, as the Vols utilized a two-tight end formation. He had only one rushing attempt for a 1-yard gain and caught three passes for 11 yards. He also assisted on a tackle while playing defense. In 42 games at Tennessee, Anderson started 26 times. He collected 74 yards with a touchdown on 13 carries (5.7 avg) and hauled in 34 passes for 315 yards (9.3 avg) and two scores. He also registered five tackles (four solo) with three stops for minus-8 yards and one quarterback pressure.

positives

Has a thick frame with good upper-body muscle definition, broad shoulders, long arms, good bubble, thick thighs and calves...Powerfully built athlete with impressive weight room numbers...Shows good initial quickness and the nimble feet to make the initial tackler miss...Does a good job of staying low in his pads and generating a strong hand punch to move defenders out of the rushing lanes...Has the flexibility to adjust to off-target passes and shows adequate balance getting into the second level...Physical hitter who plays with good aggression...Attacks defenders with vengeance and does not shy away from contact moving the pile...Has a quick initial step out of his stance, building his acceleration nicely to get through the holes...Stays low in his pads and has the loose hips to redirect...Has a good stride coming out of his stance and can surprise a lethargic second-level defender by riding up on the opponent when working in space...With his lateral range and balance, along with experience on defense, he could get a look at line-backer in training camp if he fails to progress as a fullback...Shows power and aggression pushing the pile and his speed indicates he can break open field tackles, but has had only limited opportunities (13) to carry the ball...Does a good job of sinking his weight and running behind his pads...Has the leg drive to power through low blocks and the upper-body strength to move the pile...Does a good job of catching the ball in stride on fades and screens...Punishing lead blocker with the size and strength to widen the rush lanes and keeps his feet when working through trash.

compares to

WILLIAM HENDERSON, Green Bay Packers (North Carolina)...If you are looking for a punishing lead blocker, Anderson is more than capable of widening and sustaining the rush lanes. He struggles to pick up the blitz and needs to show a better work ethic. He is a liability as a ball carrier due to poor ball distribution, but has proven to be an effective short-area receiver.

negatives

Needs to reduce his bulk in order to improve his overall stamina...Does a good job as a lead blocker, but seems to lack the instinctive feel for coverage...Good contact-seeker on running plays, but needs to do a better job of picking up the blitz and maintaining position in pass protection...His work ethic has been challenged on more than one occasion by the coaching staff and many at Tennessee feel that he needs structure...Is a liability on outside runs due to poor ball distribution...Has the cutback agility to avoid, but tries to overpower tacklers on the edge rather that trying to elude...Hits it up hard inside, but you would like to see more finesse in his runs considering his speed and lateral agility...Has yet to grasp the ball-carrying process, as he fails to distribute it to his outside when turning the corner and tends to carry it too loosely when taking it up the seam...Makes good adjustments with his body to get to the off-target throws, but outside of operating on dump-offs, he was not used to stretch the field due to a lack of sustained quickness...Lacks the burst to be a valid receiving threat outside of the short area...Has some quickness to get open in the flats and on circle routes, but needs to do a better job of protecting the ball and securing it before turning upfield...Does not quickly recognize the blitz and appears late reacting to it, causing him to lunge or overextend...When this happens, the speedier defenders can utilize a crossover arm action to avoid...Won't shy away from contact and will throw his body around, but is much better blocking inside than when working in space.

No injuries reported.

Campus: 4.7 in the 40-yard dash

430-pound bench press

545-pound squat

340-pound power clean

36-inch vertical jump

32 1/4-inch arm length

9 5/8-inch hands.

Attended Austin-East (Knoxville, Tenn.) High School, playing football for head coach Stanton Stevens

Did not play football until his senior year, but he quickly established himself as one of the top prep players in state in 2000

Competed as a linebacker, tight end and fullback that season, helping the team to a 10-3 record and the Class 2A quarter-final berth, recording 111 tackles, 17 for loss and seven sacks while also returning one interception for a touchdown from the middle linebacker position

On offense, he ran for 192 yards and caught four passes for 29 yards while scoring six total touchdowns

Anderson chose to focus on basketball his sophomore and junior years and split time between the basketball and football teams as a senior

Averaged thirteen points per game during his final campaign.

Sociology major

Born Cory DeWan Anderson on 9/10/83

Resides in Knoxville, Tennessee.