Justin Anderson
Encyclopedia
Justin Anderson is a senior running back
for the Northern Illinois Huskies
. He was the backup in 2006 for phenom Garrett Wolfe
, and in 2007 was the starter for the Huskies. In 2008 he lost many carries to Mico Brown.
, and No. 80 among Midwest Hot 100 by Score.com.
He was a four-year regular as option quarterback who produced 4,225 yards of total offense and 58 touchdowns during his career. Among Anderson's high school recognitions were team MVP, first-team Chicago Public League All-Section, and second team Chicago Sun-Times
All-Public League as a senior. He rushed for 840 yards (8.7 avg.) and 12 TDs on 97 carries for the Class 8A (the Illinois class with the top 12.5 percent in terms of total school enrollment) playoff qualifier during his senior season. He entered his final campaign as Chicago Sun-Times Top 100 Area Player and Chicago Tribune
conference Player to Watch. He was listed No. 18 among Top 30 Junior Prospects by Chicago Sun-Times following selection as team MVP, first team all-section, first team Chicago Sun-Times All-Public League and special mention all-area during junior year.
Anderson totaled 1,541 yards of total offense and 26 TDs, including 1,288 rushing yards (school's first 1,000-yard season) and 18 TDs on 9-2 conference champion and playoff qualifier as junior. He set a school record with a 92-yard rush during his junior season, and also gained 922 rushing yards and nine TDs for his 12-1 team as a sophomore.
, Anderson performed well, making his collegiate
debut versus Ohio State. Against Indiana State
, Anderson had six carries for 53 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown run. He finished the year with 25 carries for 117 yards and a touchdown.
, Anderson had 213 all-purpose yards and a score. Against Temple, Anderson ran for 163 yards and two touchdowns in the one-point loss. At Idaho
, in NIU's first win of the year, Anderson ran for 167 yards and one touchdown.
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for the Northern Illinois Huskies
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
. He was the backup in 2006 for phenom Garrett Wolfe
Garrett Wolfe
Garrett Wolfe is an American football running back. He was drafted by the Bears in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played his college football at Northern Illinois. He is currently a free agent.-Personal life:...
, and in 2007 was the starter for the Huskies. In 2008 he lost many carries to Mico Brown.
High school career
While at Steinmetz High School in Chicago, Anderson was ranked 29th among Illinois prospects, 65th in the nation, and was a three-star recruit by Rivals.com. He entered his final prep season at No. 67 among Midwest Top 100 Players by The Sporting NewsThe Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
, and No. 80 among Midwest Hot 100 by Score.com.
He was a four-year regular as option quarterback who produced 4,225 yards of total offense and 58 touchdowns during his career. Among Anderson's high school recognitions were team MVP, first-team Chicago Public League All-Section, and second team Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
All-Public League as a senior. He rushed for 840 yards (8.7 avg.) and 12 TDs on 97 carries for the Class 8A (the Illinois class with the top 12.5 percent in terms of total school enrollment) playoff qualifier during his senior season. He entered his final campaign as Chicago Sun-Times Top 100 Area Player and Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
conference Player to Watch. He was listed No. 18 among Top 30 Junior Prospects by Chicago Sun-Times following selection as team MVP, first team all-section, first team Chicago Sun-Times All-Public League and special mention all-area during junior year.
Anderson totaled 1,541 yards of total offense and 26 TDs, including 1,288 rushing yards (school's first 1,000-yard season) and 18 TDs on 9-2 conference champion and playoff qualifier as junior. He set a school record with a 92-yard rush during his junior season, and also gained 922 rushing yards and nine TDs for his 12-1 team as a sophomore.
2005 season
With a logjam at the tailback position, Anderson redshirted his true freshman season.2006 season
In a reserve role behind conference MVP Garrett WolfeGarrett Wolfe
Garrett Wolfe is an American football running back. He was drafted by the Bears in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played his college football at Northern Illinois. He is currently a free agent.-Personal life:...
, Anderson performed well, making his collegiate
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
debut versus Ohio State. Against Indiana State
Indiana State University
Indiana State University is a public university located in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States.The Princeton Review has named Indiana State as one of the "Best in the Midwest" seven years running, and the College of Education's Graduate Program was recently named as a 'Top 100' by U.S...
, Anderson had six carries for 53 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown run. He finished the year with 25 carries for 117 yards and a touchdown.
2007 season
2007 has been Anderson's coming-out party, leading the Huskies in every statistical rushing category, and earning second-team all-conference honors. He had 274 carries for 1298 yards and eight scores, averaging 4.5 yards per rush. Among the number of great games this season, against Eastern MichiganEastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
, Anderson had 213 all-purpose yards and a score. Against Temple, Anderson ran for 163 yards and two touchdowns in the one-point loss. At Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
, in NIU's first win of the year, Anderson ran for 167 yards and one touchdown.
Career statistics
| NIU | Rushing | Receiving | Kickoff Returns | Defense | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Games | Att | Yds | Avg | Lg | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | Lg | TD | Solo | Assist | Tackle | ||||
| 2006 | 11 | 25 | 117 | 4.7 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||
| 2007 | 12 | 274 | 1,298 | 4.5 | 52 | 8 | 45 | 263 | 5.8 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 23 | 299 | 1,415 | 4.7 | 52 | 9 | 45 | 263 | 5.8 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||||