Interview: Class of 2016 Tulsa QB/LB Abe Anderson still proving talents to college coaches

Even a sport as inclusive as football is still not without certain prejudices that exist nationwide. The high school ranks are filled with a large volume of players who have showed their worth on the gridiron, be it over time or in the stat column, but because they play on a lower classification an automatic snub or red flag is raised. One such overlooked recruit is Metro Christian quarterback/linebacker Abe Anderson.

However one puts together their stock for a “good” player, Anderson has it covered. He is 6’3”, 225 pounds. He started at linebacker for his Tulsa area team as a freshman and then got into the rotation under center as a sophomore playing ironman football ever since.

Maybe stats are a better indicator? Abe has that covered as well.

During his sophomore year he came up with 116 stops on defense. While splitting time in the huddle at quarterback he still threw 23 touchdown passes covering over 1,300 yards. As he learned both positions and his body matured the production went up. At the end of his junior season in 2014 he lit up opposing Oklahoma defenses for 3,656 yards with 33 touchdowns against just 1 interception. He did not slow down on defense racking up 130 tackles, 2 blocked point after attempts, blocked a punt, and got a pick-six at a critical moment in a critical game.

Anderson’s stats are not the byproduct of playing on a bad team where all the focus is on him getting his numbers. In 2014 the Patriots finished the year 10-3 before losing in the third round of the playoffs 21-14 to Wagoner. Various in-state publications have taken a shine to Anderson’s on the field skill set naming him All –Vype First-Team Quarterback, Tulsa World Player of the Week twice, All-Metro, and named All-State honorable mention.

College coaches have not completely shunned Anderson, he does have 11 Division-II scholarship offers. North Dakota has extended an offer while teams like Tulsa, Arkansas State, Memphis, Stephen F. Austin, Missouri State, Wyoming, and Houston are showing varying levels of interest. Despite all the recognition and honors of being extended 11 scholarship offers something still seems amiss. How can a player with Anderson’s size, stat lines, and physical abilities still be in search of D-I scholarships to top programs?

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview I sat down with Abe to learn more about one of Oklahoma’s top prospects for the 2016 recruiting class covering ground on the Patriots’ upcoming 2015 season, recruiting, and his college camp schedule.

 

Abe, Metro Christian finished the season 10-3 going to the third round of the playoffs before losing to Wagoner 21-14. Entering the season did the Patriots expect to have that great of a season?

“We lost a lot of great seniors the year before. We started off really slow but towards the end of the year we were playing really good football. We were beating Wagoner 14-0 and they came back in the second half. That was a really good game. That was in the semifinals. In the quarterfinals we beat a team, Anadarko (16-13), that had only lost two games in like five years.”

Having finished spring ball how does the team look heading into next season?

“We look really good. I have my top two receivers back, Jake Koenig and Cavan Gary.”

Do you think you guys will be a playoff team again next year?

“Definitely.”

You’re obviously very talented on both sides of the ball. Let’s start with the quarterback position. What makes you a great quarterback for Metro Christian?

“I feel like I am a good leader out on the field. I feel like I can get away from pressure and I can make time to make throws downfield. I think I have a strong arm.”

Understanding all quarterbacks like all pass routes, but what are some of your favorite routes to connect with your receivers?

“I like throwing the ball deep vertically down the field. That’s my favorite thing to do. That’s what I am best at.”

How far can you throw the ball on a one-step drop?

“I think the farthest I have ever thrown the ball is 65-yards.”

How about at linebacker? What makes you a great middle linebacker?

“I feel like I read offenses really well, being a quarterback that really helps. I feel like I can hit pretty hard.”

Are you better at run support or pass coverage or good at both?

“I feel like last season as the year went on I got better at pass coverage. I felt pretty confident in both.”

What was your best game as a quarterback last year?

“My best game was against Sallisaw (45-27 win). I had think 451 yards and five touchdowns.”

What about at linebacker?

“My biggest play of the year at linebacker was probably against Poteau. I had a pick-six to put the game away against Poteau (won 35-33). Against Anadarko I had a big 4th and 1 stop, it’s the first play on my highlight film.”

What was your sophomore year like?

“I started at both positions as well. I started at linebacker my freshman year too.”

Do you remember your stat line from your sophomore season?

“I had 23 passing touchdowns, and six rushing. I think I had around 1,300 yards passing. I split time at quarterback as a sophomore. I rotated with another kid.”

And you still had 23 passing touchdowns.

“Yep.”

What about at linebacker? How many tackles did you have in 2013?

“My sophomore year I think I had 116.”

What are your goals for the 2015 football season?

“I want to win a state championship. I think we have the team to do that this year.”

Do you have any personal goals stat line wise?

“Not really. I have not thought that through yet. I just want to win a state championship.”

Is the plan to start you at linebacker and at quarterback again in 2015?

“I’ll stay at linebacker and quarterback.”

Let’s talk a little bit about recruiting. Right now I have that you have one offer from North Dakota, are any other schools showing interest in you right now?

“I have 11 D-II offers. I feel like some more D-I offers are coming.”

What are some of the D-II schools that have offered you?

“Emporia State, Central Oklahoma, NSCU – those are probably the main schools that have offered. I have an offer from Southwest Baptist, a school in Missouri, for a full ride from a D-II school, which is pretty good. They’ve offered me to play both quarterback and linebacker.”

I guess they’re trying to get their money’s worth out of you?

“(Laughs) Yeah, I guess.”

Which D-I schools are showing interest in you?

“Arkansas State, Tulsa, Wyoming, Missouri State, Memphis, Houston, Stephen F. Austin, Northern Colorado – there’s a lot of D-Is where I feel like if I go to their camp and do really well I’ll get an offer from them.”

What are the different coaches telling you they like about your game?

“They like how versatile I am. They like my upside at linebacker. I’ve been looked at as an H-back, quarterback, linebacker, and a defensive end. I can play a number of positions. I think that is what draws a lot of them. I have pretty big numbers and stuff. They think I am a pretty good football player.”

You have great numbers and really good size, do you think that because you play at the 4-A level and not at the 6-A level college recruiters are snubbing you a little?

“I don’t really think so. With Twitter and Hudl it’s a lot easier to get your tape out. It might hurt a little bit getting schools out to your school and stuff. We’re not like a 6A school where every coach in the country comes by. We don’t produce D-I football players every year.”

What will influence where you play your college ball?

“If it’s a good fit and where I feel comfortable with the coaches. The position is not going to change where I go to school. I really don’t care which position I play in college. I like them all. I just want to feel really comfortable.”

Have you gone on any unofficial visits yet?

“I’ve been to Wyoming, Oklahoma, and TU twice, which is Tulsa University.”

How did the Oklahoma visit go?

“It went really good. Their facilities are some of the best in the country.”

Where was everything left with them? Do they want you to go to one of their camps?

“Yeah, I’m going to camp there this summer.”

How did your visit to Tulsa go?

“I loved it there. I’m going to their camp there on Sunday. They have a new coaching staff. I think Coach Montgomery is going to do a great job there. They’re going to start winning a lot of games.”

Is Tulsa recruiting you at quarterback or linebacker?

“Kind of like a linebacker hybrid type. Kind of like a defensive end slash linebacker.”

What other camps or unofficial visits do you have planned for this summer?

“I’m going to quite a few camps and from there I’ll start taking some visits to see what offers I get.”

What is your camp schedule?

“TU, Central Arkansas June 7, Arkansas State June 8 and probably the KU (Kansas) camp on June 9. June will be really busy. Then I’m going to OU (Oklahoma), probably Missouri State, Stephen F. Austin in Dallas, and then the Wyoming one. I’m going to Houston in Dallas and that’ll probably be it.”

What are you working on in the offseason to prepare for the camps and your senior season?

“I’ve been doing a lot of footwork stuff and working on my agility and my speed. I’ve been working on a little bit of everything every time I go out there. I’ve been working on getting faster and having quicker feet. That’s my main goal.”

Are you tweaking anything in your mechanics as a quarterback?

“Yeah, I have a pretty long throwing motion from being a baseball player. I’ve been working on shortening up my motion. I think I have been pretty successful there.”

What position do you play in baseball?

“My freshman and sophomore year I caught. This year I played mostly first base, pitched a little bit, and caught some.”

I’m assuming you’re a power pitcher on the mound. What pitches do you throw?

“I throw two. I’d go in at the end of the game sometimes.”

What were you’re two pitches?

“I throw a fastball and a curve.”

An Uncle Charlie, so do you have a 12-6 break on your curve?

“(Laughs) No. I don’t know. This was my first year to pitch so I was not too advanced in my mechanics or anything.”

What is your favorite part about playing football?

“I love winning. I like the comradery. I’ve made a lot of great friend through football. It’s a brotherhood.”

 

Written by Ryan Wright

Photo credit: Vanco Photography; Abe Anderson at practice

Photo credit: Abe Anderson