Tigers’ Anderson up for top award amongst running backs in college football

MEMPHIS – Before ever taking a regular season snap at Memphis, big things are expected from top transfer Mario Anderson as he looks to fill the shoes of 1000-yard rusher Blake Watson at running back for the Tigers.

But Anderson’s reputation and stats at South Carolina have him earning a place on the preseason watch list for the Doak Walker award which annually goes to the best running back in college football.

Last season, Anderson ran for a team best 707 yards and three touchdowns for the Gamecocks, logging 100 yard games against both Tennessee and Vanderbilt. Now, Anderson is looking to do the same thing ‘and’ more in Memphis with a physical, ground and pound mentality than most Tiger running backs we’re used to seeing.

“That’s just always how I ran. Just angry, violent. I watched guys like Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch, Derrick Henry, like all those kind of guys growing up,” Anderson said. “So I feel like I bring kind of like, that older vibe back a little bit.”

“He has great contact, balance, good vision and he runs hard,” said Tigers coach Ryan Silverfield. “I think he really is a bowling ball. He’s got a unique skill level. I think he’s also more athletic than we think.”

Also making the Doak Walker award watch list are two other backs filling bigger roles like Ulysses Bentley at Ole Miss.  Bentley played behind Quinshon Judkins last year down in Oxford.

Dylan Sampson also shared the running back duties a year ago at Tennessee. Now, he’s RB one after leading the Vols with eight touchdowns a season ago.

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