UNI running back values high school football experience

The well rarely runs dry at Blue Springs High School.

Located near Kansas City, the school has won three Missouri state football championships and 18 conference titles since 1973. Blue Springs produces its share of college talent, including Northern Iowa freshman running back Carlos Anderson.

To Anderson, his alma mater offered a chance to wade into high-level football before becoming a key part of UNI's offense.

“It's kind of like college - just like at Northern Iowa,” said the 5-foot-8 Anderson. “We don't really dive down. We just reload every year.

“It lets you know how it is playing in front of the big crowds and being ready for the media and whatnot. This is nothing new to me.”

Anderson's not playing in high school anymore, of course, but the big crowds and tough situations haven't seemed to bother him much during his rookie year as a Panther.

With Derrick Law serving a one-game suspension, Anderson started at Iowa, rushing for 75 yards in 24 carries and catching three Pat Grace passes for another 28.

In UNI's loss at South Dakota State, Anderson was UNI's most versatile offensive weapon. He racked up a game-high 196 all-purpose yards, including 79 rushing, 37 receiving and 80 more returning kickoffs.

“It was one of the best games I had,” Anderson said.

Law has moved back into the starting lineup, and he is the Panthers leading ball carrier with 555 yards on the ground, Anderson is not far behind at 423. The freshman tops UNI in attempts with 91.

“I'm satisfied,” he said. “Splitting time with D-Law is real good. It keeps me fresh. It keeps him fresh.”

Anderson has had to learn some lessons on the run, like most young college football players. He must block blitzing linebackers, safeties and cornerbacks, for instance. He studied Law and picked up a few other rules of the college rushing road.

“What I learned from Derrick is you can't always be willing and wanting to juke,” Anderson said. “You sometimes have to be a straight downhill runner ... he hits the hole really hard and sometimes that helps us out a lot.”

As UNI faces a critical Missouri Valley Football Conference game Saturday against Youngstown State, Coach Mark Farley knows he'll need help from Law and Anderson.

“He's very competitive,” Farley said. “He gets in a football game and the more he's in it, the more competitive he gets.”