Oct 18, 2014; Tempe, AZ, USA; Stanford Cardinal defensive end Henry Anderson (91) against the Arizona State Sun Devils in the first quarter at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Colts Defensive Rookie of the Year: Henry Anderson
While fellow rookies D’Joun Smith and Clayton Geathers also warrant serious consideration here, Henry Anderson appears to be poised for the most playing time initially and thus, to make the most impact. Although he projects to play behind projected starter Kendall Langford, the former Stanford standout figures to be a key cog in the Colts rotational defensive line rotation.
As a 3rd round pick of the Colts, Anderson was highly regarded by both draft analysts and advanced metric gurus for his high motor play last season. He graded out as ProFootballFocus‘ (subscription) best interior defensive lineman:
The best-graded interior defensive lineman in NCAA football last season? Henry Anderson. #Colts https://t.co/2A5K9X4sJo
— PFF (@PFF) June 4, 2015
Coming off an 8.5 sack season for the Cardinal, Anderson could prove to be a difference-maker for the Colts as a pass rusher along the defensive line off the bench. If nothing else, he should be set to contribute right away for a defensive line that could use an infusion of young talent.