Anderson explains decision behind transfer, expectations at Texas

AUSTIN — After growing up in the Austin area, playing for three years at Georgetown and one year at Westlake, grad transfer OL Calvin Anderson looked forward to his homecoming.

Speaking with the media for the first time since his transfer, Anderson said Tuesday being a Longhorn all-around has been awesome.

“It’s better than what I thought it would be,” Anderson said. “I thought it would be pretty great. I had high expectations.”

Anderson, wearing his Rice ring for his degree in mathematic economics, spoke about how he went away for college to develop himself as a person. Part of that development included football, where David Baliff’s Rice Owls were one of the few team to invite Anderson to their program.

Baliff immediately put Anderson on the Owl o-line despite Anderson telling reporters he showed up to Rice weighing 230 pounds. When it came time for the next step in his career, Anderson said he spoke with Baliff about possibly playing for one of his pupils, Tom Herman.

“It didn’t go much into the decision making process, but it was reassurance because he knows what kind of guy Coach Herman is and what kind of coach he’s developed into.” Anderson said. “It was good to bounce that off of him as someone I trust. Coach Baliff, I trust him as a person and as a coach. He reassured me that Coach Herman was who I thought he was.”

That reassurance was one of many reasons Anderson chose Texas, but the main factor was where he thought he could “flourish best” as a player. Anything else was just icing on the cake.

“I was dealing with a lot of good football programs, but coming back home to Austin and being able to play in front of probably the best fanbase in America, some of these things are just intangibles,” Anderson said. “I think it’s a great football program.”

Anderson was working out with a friend from Rice before he made his transfer decision. His second college courtship occurred during that time with Michigan, Oklahoma, and Auburn joining Texas as schools battling for Anderson.

When Auburn first got involved in recruiting Anderson, Texas OL coach Herb Hand was still on the Plains rather than on the Forty Acres. Hand told reporters in August he believed Anderson bought into his message because it didn’t change after his arrival in Austin. Anderson confirmed that Tuesday.

“He started, from the beginning, recruiting me and talking to me specifically about what he saw in me as a player and what he thought he could do together in a teacher-student role to make me a better player,” Anderson said. “That never changed. Whether he was wearing the Texas uniform or wearing the Auburn uniform, he was saying the same thing.”

Hand’s offensive line helped pave the way for two touchdowns and 142 rushing yards in the season opener. Despite a solid debut in burnt orange and white for Anderson, he still saw plenty he could improve on.

“You always start with yourself if you’re a real competitor and that’s what I started with,” Anderson said. “I had some opportunities in that game that I didn’t take advantage of to be more solidified in the left side of the running game. That’s what I’ll be working on this next week. I think I was good in pass protection, but could be better.”

Without question, the Texas offense was rolling in the middle half of the game specifically when the Longhorns went up-tempo. For an offensive line, and even for the rest of the offense, up-tempo can build confidence and wear down opponents simultaneously.

The Texas OL, anchored by a left tackle who hasn’t missed a single snap in a game he’s played, was evidence of this against Maryland. Anderson said he hoped to see more of what had them rolling.

“I think the tempo builds confidence.” Anderson said. “The confidence is like that extra piece. When you have it, you’re going. When you don’t have it, you don’t. I think the tempo created that for us in that game, and I think we need to lean on it more as we go into next week. I think that was a good feeling being out there, being able to move the ball, seeing the defense get tired.”

Anderson said despite the loss, he still has faith in what his team can accomplish this year. He wants to accomplish a lot this year. There’s a lot of people who would love to be in his position.

“Even after a loss, I still feel very privileged to be here, to be able to play for Austin, and to be able to play for the Longhorns,” Anderson said. “I see it as a privilege. That’s another reason why I try to work so hard. The resources and the fan love, it’s not like that everywhere in the country. I count it as a blessing that I can be here and be able to play at this school.”