Interview: Recruiting Stock for 3-Star 2021 LB Brady Anderson is on the Rise
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Being technically sound with size, speed, and determination leads to bad Friday nights on the field for teams taking on Bakersfield’s Liberty High School. The Patriots put Class of 2021 linebacker Brady Anderson on a seek and destroy mission during the 2019 season, and the mission was accomplished. On a low-end stat guesstimate, Anderson jacked up 75 ball carriers with six tackles for a loss, three sacks, three QB hurries, picked off a pass, broke up a pass, and forced a fumble in 10 games played. The 6-2, 200-pound, three-star recruit took home All-League, All-Area, and Hometown All-Star honors at the conclusion of his season. Now his college football recruiting is kicking into gear.
In an RNG first-look, Anderson sat down for a detailed conversation going over his junior year, offseason workouts, and growing recruiting options.
Interview
Brady, the message you have written on the back of your shoulder pads, “Feel Me”, has been earned. You are a hard hitter, no doubt. When you step on the field, what motivates you to play the game with that kind of intensity?
“What motivates me is my future. Football is my future. Football is the only thing I have ever wanted. Since I was a kid, football, that is what I wanted to play and do, and how I wanted to make money – all through football. My dad motivates me. He has always told me you get want you want through hard work. I am training every day. That is what motivates me.”
What scheme were the Patriots running last season?
“We ran a 3-4.”
As an inside backer, what were your responsibilities?
“I would have the running back to the quarterback. The inside backers in our scheme are watching the guards; we are inside to outside guys. We are taking away anything up the middle, stopping the dives and all those things up the gut and then we take the outside away.”
How did your overall game improve last season?
“It improved a lot. The first part went well, then in Game 4 I had an ankle injury that kept me out for a couple of weeks. It was hard to restart again. I played hurt on the ankle the last half of the season, but it pushed me to step it up for colleges. I wanted to be better. I was hungrier going through the season after that.”
Of all the games played, which was your best personal game performance?
“I’d say my best game was the Bakersfield game; the BHS game. That was the game when I picked up a guy and suplexed him. I had some good highlights.”
Beyond that big play, what else did you do well to make that game a top perforamnce?
“I think I had 12 or 13 tackles. I feel like every other play was a big hit. The crowd was going crazy and they are our rival. That is our biggest game each year. There is nothing better than putting them on the ground.”
Will you be doing anything differently on the field in 2020?
“I think this year coach is putting some at tight end and maybe some at slot.”
That’ll be fun. What have you been working on with your game this offseason?
“We were doing zero period until school shutdown. There is a gym open in town; I’ve been working out and going to the field to do drills. I am working on my footwork and agility. At home, I have a squat rack and I’ve been flipping tires every day. I am doing as much as I can to get bigger, stronger, and faster.”
Sticking with the weights; what are your maxes?
“Squat was 415, bench was 315, and my clean was 280.”
Nice. This summer, are you competing at any camps?
“Yes. I am trying to hit as many as I can. Some I want to compete at are on the same day, but I am for sure hitting USC’s Rising Stars Camp, a UCLA camp in June, Sac State has a Mega Camp I am going to, and Cal is having a camp as well.”
Which schools have offered you so far?
“Fresno State and San Diego State.”
What other schools are showing interest?
“Utah, Cal, Oregon State, Wyoming, San Jose State, Colorado State, West Point, Washington State, Nevada, Sac State and some others I cannot think of right now.”
Did you take any visits over the past few months?
“I set up visits with Utah, that was this week and San Jose State for about two weeks ago. I only got to visit Fresno State; that was the week after they offered me.”
How did the Fresno State trip go?
“It was great. The coaches are personable, they are all about you there. I sat down with Coach (William) Inge (DC). We talked about recruiting. He gave me tips and tricks. We talked for an hour and I talked to head coach Kalen Deboer for an hour. He wanted to get to know me and my family. We had lunch there; it was a great day.”
There were some planned visits that did not happen, are there any others you may take in the coming months?
“Washington State wants me up there. We will end up going to San Jose State and Utah. I want to visit Oregon State, Portland, and Oregon too.”
My virus buster question. Which TV shows and movies have you been watching during this downtime?
“Oh man. Right now, I am grinding on All-American on Netflix. I’ve been watching that every day.:
Brady, it was great getting time in with you covering ground on football and recruiting. Good luck with your workouts until we talk again.
“Thank you.”
Photo credit: Liberty HS/Anderson family; Brady Anderson at Fresno State and on the field