The story behind TCU’s Anderson wearing No. 25 at the Senior Bowl, and his NFL dreams
Darius Anderson has returned to his roots for this week’s Senior Bowl.
The TCU standout running back is wearing No. 25, not No. 6 like he did during his college days or No. 1 as he did during his high school days at Richmond George Ranch.
Instead, No. 25 is a throwback to his youth-league days and a nod to his father, Quincy Anderson, who wore No. 25 as a star running back during his playing days at Seagraves High School.
“This is my dad’s number,” Darius said. “He was a stud. Seagraves was a small town, but his posters are everywhere.”
The gesture has not gone unnoticed by Quincy. He is proud to see his son wearing No. 25 on a national stage such as the Senior Bowl, which will be played Saturday at Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
The No. 25 has been revered in Seagraves much like No. 88 is coveted by receivers, or No. 94 by defensive linemen, of the Dallas Cowboys.
“I’m proud and emotional all at the same time,” Quincy said. “I’m very proud of Darius. He’s pushed through a lot. I played small-town 2A football, Friday night lights type of thing, but to see your son actually do it at a totally bigger level and be able to represent you, I’m speechless.
“That No. 25 is significant to us,” he said. “Whoever was No. 25 was considered the top back in high school. That was the goal once you got on varsity. Wear No. 25.”
For Anderson, maybe No. 25 will be his number at the next level too. He’s certainly doing whatever he can to prepare himself for an NFL career.
He put together an impressive highlight-reel during his time at TCU. Anderson’s two favorite runs were a 70-yard score against Texas his freshman season in 2016 and a record-setting 93-yard touchdown run against Ohio State in 2018.
He led the Horned Frogs with 823 yards rushing this season, including three consecutive 100-yard games. There’s little question that he’s a end-zone threat every time he touches the ball, and he fittingly has the nickname “Jet.”
But NFL evaluators question whether Anderson is an every down back at the next level. He has to become better in pass protection, which is easier said than done for a guy his size. At the Senior Bowl, Anderson checked in at 5-feet-10 1/2 inches and 195 pounds.
An NFL Draft analyst felt Anderson handled himself OK in pass protection drills throughout the week, saying he “got jostled some in pass pro but held his own for a guy his size.”
The same draft analyst felt Anderson performed well catching the ball out of the backfield, as well as having “some nice shake on screens to beat linebackers one-on-one.”
Anderson also received reps as a returner, another aspect of his game that should be attractive to NFL teams.
When asked how he would evaluate his three practices this week, Anderson said: “Pretty good. I wanted to do a little bit more the last day, but I still feel like I showcased all my skills — catching out of the backfield, still being able to step up in pass pro and running the ball.”
Anderson will have another opportunity to do so in Saturday’s game, although the practices are the most heavily-scouted part of the Senior Bowl week.
In the end, Anderson is doing everything within his power to make himself an attractive prospect. And while much hard work has gone into his development, you also don’t need to wonder how those gifts were first fostered.
Anderson’s father was a decorated high school athlete. He earned district and regional honors before he enlisted in the Army and served for nine years. His mother, LaTerria, also served in the Army but was a standout volleyball and track athlete in high school. She runs marathons to this day.
“Everybody in my family is an athlete,” said Anderson, who has always been a student of the game.
“His little league coach told me Darius would be in there watching film with him while all the other kids were out,” said the elder Anderson. “I remember waking up at like 2 a.m. one time before a Saturday game, and he was on the computer with a bowl of cereal looking at film on the team they’re about to play.
“My wife still has a few playbooks that Darius made during his little league days,” he said. “He’s been serious about the game for a long time.”
Anderson is now focused on boosting his stock as much as possible. He’s had a solid showing during Senior Bowl practices, and will shift his attention to posting good numbers at the NFL’s scouting combine next month.
Anderson already has a goal to run a 4.43-second 40-yard dash or better. A 4.43 would have been the second-fastest running back time at the 2019 combine behind Oklahoma State’s Justice Hill’s 4.40.
“I’ve told NFL scouts that my biggest strength is explosiveness,” Anderson said. “That’s what I want to show them — my speed, my acceleration.”
And, as far as the Andersons are concerned, the NFL is where Darius will reach his peak as a football player. He would’ve loved to reach the 1,000-yard mark in one of his seasons at TCU, but he battled injuries and split carries for much of his career.
Now the focus is on having a pro career.
“He wanted to do more and I wanted him to do more at TCU,” the elder Anderson said. “He had some injuries that were unfortunate. They weren’t career-ending injuries, but I do believe he hasn’t tapped his full level yet. I think it’s still to come.”
