In general, I would not redshirt guys that have speed like that. Get them in the WR rotation running deep routes and wear out opposition DBs. These days you cannot count on players staying 4 years, much less a 5th.
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Anderson Turning Heads With Speed, Hands
After his redshirt season in 2021, frosh receiver Mavin Anderson has spent the first eight sessions of spring ball making his case to be an impact receiver for the Bears in 2022.
The list of evidence is growing every day that the former 4 star prep receiver can be a lethal option in what the Bears hope will be a significantly improved offense this season. Perhaps at the top of the list was Anderson’s electric 65-yard end-around touchdown in Saturday’s scrimmage where he effortlessly wove his way through the defense on his way to the end zone.
“That was amazing,” said Anderson. “We had the reverse set up. I came around the corner and everything was clear so it was just up to me to finish it.”
“Mavin had a big play on the first play of the second drive with the reverse, taking it to the house,” said Cal head coach Justin Wilcox. “it was an explosive play.”
Sitting behind three senior receivers as a frosh, Anderson had to bide his time for when he'd get his shot. Now that the first-team reps are there, the talented frosh is taking advantage of the opportunity.
“It’s like some release, for sure,” said Anderson. “it’s been something I’ve been dying to get out there and show what I can do as far as speed and use my talents and abilities for things like that so it was nice to kind of see it play out today.”
The high-level timing exhibited between the Bears’ young receivers and potential starting QBs Jack Plummer and Kai Millner so far in spring ball belies a chemistry that takes far more than a handful of spring practices together but rather significant time spent off the official practice field.
“I got together a lot with the quarterbacks and receivers definitely after the season,” said Anderson. “Extra routes, speed workouts, extra workouts at home-a combination of all that stuff.”
Anderson is impressed with the talent around him and feels the young receiving corps are ready to break out in 2022.
“Our receiver room is stacked this year,” noted Anderson. “We’ve got a whole bunch of guys, young and ready to compete. A good atmosphere, for sure.”
Though Anderson’s playing in the slot primarily, he's more than willing to do whatever he can to get on the field wherever he can.
“I'm playing in the slot, at the Z, trying to just be available wherever, whenever,” said Anderson. “In the passing game, what we're working into this year is someone who can take the top off and open up the middle and get some things on the outsides going. Usually, I’m matched up against a nickel or strong safety roll-down.”
Well-known from as far back as his early high school days for his grinding personal workouts, the additional work he puts in with his own trainers and additional work off the field add even more assurance that he's ready to break out.
“Definitely,” agreed Anderson. “It’s the work behind the scenes. Confidence is a big one. Confidence, building that memory, and just kind of having faith in yourself.
“I have a trainer for the gym, Coach Tony at Saddleback Strength, and Coach Emmanuel Moody back home, a former college running back. He gets me right as far as speed goes with linear speed, quick twitch, and all that stuff.”
Anderson's not alone in putting in the extra work to succeed this season, with his WR teammates joining in with the extra work to prepare to make a difference.
“It's a lot of long days in the film room,” said Anderson. “I’d say like an hour and a half after every practice, at least. A lot of routes over the weekend -every weekend in the offseason. 2-3 times a week, just go catch routes and make that off-field connection to have it come together on the field.”
Anderson and his WR room make it a point to take their bonds beyond the practice field, spending a lot of time together off the field, too, not to mention with their quarterbacks.
“All the time,” said Anderson. “We’re cool. It's not just on the field, it's off the field. And me and Kai are roommates and we’ve been hanging out with Jack, too.”
Anderson’s substantial field is more than evident on the practice field but he has definite competition in the speed arena.
So who's the fastest?
“I’d say me,” said Anderson with a smile. “Pretty confidently, to be honest.” As for if he’d get any arguments from teammates, he added, “Depends on who you ask. JMike Sturdivant - 10.37 100 guy. That’s my guy, though.”
Anderson noted that he ran a 10.73 100 in a state qualifier so for the distance of a full football field, he's in the ballpark, though plays seldom are so long in game time situations.
“We race all the time,” said Anderson. “I get him, he gets me. We have a threshold of 40 yards. the first 40, I get him. Then after 40, he pulls even. Ashton Stredick can run, too. Dejuan Butler -nickel, safety- he’s pretty fast, too. Lu-Magia Hearns is pretty fast, as well. All our DBs are fast. It's nice. It's good to sharpen my own iron against them.”
The time he spent getting acclimated to the world of collegiate football as a redshirt frosh in 2021 put Anderson in a position to be much more confident and prepared to make his mark this season.
“It's an element of relaxation and confidence on the field,” said Anderson. “That's the biggest thing. Having already been through the wringer once really helps. Kinda knowing how things go. The playbook, I've been really in my playbook this year trying to be available at whatever position. Those types of things give me confidence.”
Rather than scrambling for third-team reps as a frosh in 2021, Anderson saw lots of action on the scout team, with potential starting QB running thins behind center, mimicking the opposition’s offense to get the first team D ready.
“I was scout all last year, going against the first team guys," said Anderson. “My priority was to kind of get the best out of them and give them my all and get better so they can get better. It wasn't really a ‘take reps off’ thing. It was exactly the opposite.
Did the time spent running scout with Millner help build chemistry with his roommate?
“Oh definitely, yes,” said Anderson. “Fitting in scramble windows against the starting defense, stuff like that.”
The confident receiver also doesn't lack confidence about what his team can accomplish in 2022.
“We're going to be good this year. I have full confidence in this team that we’re going to be good. We've got a lot of young guys who really work hard and set the standard really well.”
This is the way.
Related:
2021 Cal WR Signee Mavin Anderson: Why I Chose Cal