The Falcons added a strong defensive end to their roster with the eighth overall selection as the club selected Arkansas DE Jamaal Anderson.
Anderson (6-5, 288 pounds) was a second team All-America choice by the NFL Draft Report and a honorable mention selection by Pro Football Weekly and Sports Illustrated after a 2006 season in which he posted 13.5 sacks and 65 total tackles (44 solo).
He shifted to left defensive end and started 14 games for the Razorbacks. He ranked sixth on the team in tackles and led the SEC (third in the nation) with an average of 0.96 sacks per game.
In addition to his sack total, he 19.5 tackles for -108 yards, 26 quarterback pressures, six pass defenses and one forced fumble.
In his career at Arkansas, he started 19 of 36 games. He recorded 130 tackles (84 solo) with 17.5 sacks for -128 yards, 32 tackles for loss (-167 yards), 35 QB pressures and eight pass defenses.
He also blocked one kick, forced two fumbles and recovered one fumble.
Regarded by scouts as a player who possesses a rare speed that helps him get past lethargic opposing tackles, changes direction well and has a strong instinct for the game.
"We felt like going into the draft, defensive end was at the top of our need list based on the loss of Patrick Kerney and Jamal was a guy we liked very much from his play on the field," said Falcons President and GM Rich McKay. "He is one of those guys whose measurables match up with his production. He is a 6-5, 288-pound guy who ran real fast, tested real well and also played real well -- that's a good combination. We said going in that we were going to try to get bigger on both sides of the line and this gives us an opportunity to do that. The last two seasons, you've seen us struggle -- when we've had injuries -- to create a pass rush. This gives us another pass rusher at the left end position which is a good fit for us."
"We're bringing him in here to start at left defensive end," said Falcons Head Coach Bobby Petrino. "That's what excited us so much about him because not only does he play the run real well, but he provides pass rush. He can do both."
In 2006, he had big games vs. Auburn as he had four QB pressures and four tackles - including a sack and two tackles for loss, three solo tackles and two pressures vs. Ole Miss, and a huge effort vs. Tennessee in which he posted three sacks for -16 yards, 3.5 tackles for loss, three pressues and five total tackles.
He ended his college career with five tackles (3 solo), two sacks for -19 yards, four tackles, four QB pressures and a pass defense vs. Wisconsin in the Capital One Bowl.
The season before, he took over the starting right defensive end slot for the Razorbacks with five games left when Anthony Brown was lost for the season with an injury. He had 47 tackles (28 solo) with four sacks and was second on the team with 10.5 tackles for loss.
As a true freshman in 2004, he played in all 11 games as a reseve at DE. He had 18 tackles (12 solo) with two tackles for loss and two QB pressures.
Anderson was a standout wide receiver and defensive end at Parkview (Little Rock, Ark.) HS. He finished his high school career as he all-time leading receiver in Parkview history with 85 receptions for 1,620 yards and 13 TDs.
