Anderson focuses on wins, not stats

Versatile senior a big part of Knights’ 39-6 record in last three-plus years

O tis Anderson feels like it wasn’t that long ago when he first arrived at UCF as a fresh-faced kid out of Jacksonville.

Fast forward four years, and the running back/ receiver/ all-purpose athlete is wrapping up what could be his final season with the Knights.

“Time has really flown by,” Anderson said. “It feels like I was literally just getting here and doing the National Signing Day ... 2017 photoshoot. I didn’t really realize until this bye week when I realized I had three games left for my senior year.”

Thanks to an NCAA waiver, players who took part in this COVID-19 impacted season can receive another year of eligibility. Anderson, who already earned his bachelor’s degree, hasn’t tipped his handas to whether he’ll return for a fifth year or leave for a possible pro career.

A lot has happened since Anderson arrived as that three-star prospect out of University Christian High.

UCF won a school record 25 consecutive games, including back-to-back American Athletic Conference titles and consecutive appearances in New Year’s Six Access Bowl games highlighted by awin over Auburn in the Peach Bowl.

The Knights have gone 39-6 during thepast three-plus seasons thanks, in part, to the 5-foot-11 Anderson, who has developed into oneof themost versatile players in college football. He’s UCF’s version of Darren Sproles, the former NFL tailback who excelled as a rusher, receiver and return specialist.

Anderson has amassed 3,446 all-purpose yards through 43 games, moving him into the top 10 of the school’s all-time list behind Kevin Smith, Rannell Hall and Adrian Killins.

He also enters this week 25 yards shy of 2,000 career rushing yards andis 190 yards away from moving into the top 10 in career rushing yards at UCF.

While the majority of his time has been spent in the backfield (320 attempts), he’s also contributed as a slot receiver (87 catches) and kick returner (39returns). This season, however, he’s returned to his roots primarily at tailback.

“It doesn’t really matter tome as long as I get the ball inmy hands,” said Anderson, who is second on the team with 480 rushing yards and three touchdowns. “I feel more natural at running back. I grew up playing running back, so I just learned howto be savvy in the backfield and getting thingsdone.”

Of his 212 snaps this season, 200 have been while he’s been in the backfield while only nine have been at the slot position, according to ProFootball Focus. Someof that can be attributed to the development of receivers such as Marlon Williams, Jaylon Robinson, Jacob

Harris and Ryan O’Keefe, whohave commanded much of the attention away fromthe line of scrimmage.

“It’s been a combination of multiple things. At times, the backfield hasn’t been at full strength,” UCF coach Josh Heupel said, adding Anderson has been shifted where he’s needed. “[... The running backs] lost a good player a year ago in AK [Adrian Killins], too, that took some of those carries. [Anderson has] got the ability to play out ... [at receiver] in a mismatch aswell.”

For Anderson, the focus this season has been improving his pass blocking.

“This year, I felt like I had to,” Anderson said. “I put on a little weight and honed in on my techniques and I really want to be able to showthat.”

It’ s a point of emphasis not limited to Anderson, but also embraced by his fellow running backs.

“That’s something we talk about every day in meetings. Just being able to protect the quarterback,” Anderson said. “If we protect the quarterback, we should be able to slice up any defense in the country.

“We take it personally. We don’t want to give up any sacks as a running backs room. We’re a smaller running backs group than most teams in the country, so we don’t want any linebackers to think it will be a walkthrough to get a sack, especially on our end.”

Added running backs coach Anthony Tucker, “I tell those guys every day that the two things that are most important in your job description: protect the football and protect the quarterback.”

Ashis time winds down, Anderson’s focus has been on the here and now.

When asked whether he and his teammates discuss the team’s prolific offense — ranked No. 1 in thenation— Anderson said he’s not worried about numbers.

“We’re just worried about winning ,” Anderson said .“Honestly, I didn’t know we were No. 1 in the nation for the offense until I got tagged on an Instagram post. That was news to me.”