Colt Anderson
Encyclopedia
Colt Anderson is an American football
free safety for the Philadelphia Eagles
of the National Football League
(NFL). He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings
as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football
at Montana.
to parents Mike and Michele Anderson. Two of his uncles played college football
at the University of Montana during the 1970s. He attended Butte High School where he lettered in football
and basketball for three years, and track
twice. He played football as a running back
and safety. As a junior, he was named honorable mention all-state, and as a senior in 2003, was an all-state first-team safety and honorable mention running back. Over the course of his career, Anderson recorded 310 tackles
, nine interceptions, 850 rushing yards
, and 12 touchdown
s. He was not recruited out of high school and chose to attend the University of Montana.
status. In 2005, he saw action in five games on special teams, but suffered a broken thumb after making a tackle against Oregon
. His injury curtailed his playing time, and he finished the season having recorded seven tackles. During the offseason, he worked to improve his conditioning and impressed the coaching staff enough to garner a scholarship
. In 2006, Anderson started
all 14 games and recorded 92 tackles. The conference named him to the All-Big Sky
first-team as both a safety and on special teams. When asked if he looks for "big-hit opportunit[ies]" in 2006, he said, "I just like to fly around and make plays and every now and then you’ll come across a guy that you can hit." In 2007, he started in all 14 games. Anderson tallied 85 tackles including 58 solo and seven for loss, three forced fumbles, four interceptions, and nine pass deflections. The conference again named Anderson to the All-Big Sky first team, while The Sports Network
named him an honorable mention All-American
, and College Sporting News named him to its "Fabulous Fifty" team.
In 2008
, Anderson served as the team captain and saw action in all 16 games. He recorded 129 tackles including 63 solo and 6.5 for loss, one quarterback sack
, three interceptions returned for 80 yards, six passes broken-up, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. That season, Montana advanced to the national championship game before falling to Richmond
, 24–7. Anderson was selected as a Buck Buchanan Award
candidate. The conference named him an All-Big Sky player for the third year and he also received the team's most valuable player
honors. Virtually every FCS All-America team selector named him to its first team. The American Football Coaches Association
, Associated Press
, College Sporting News, and the Walter Camp Foundation named Anderson to their first teams, while the Sports Network named him an honorable mention All-American. After the season, he participated in the Texas vs. the Nation
all-star game. Anderson readily embraced his hometown of Butte, despite the negative associated stereotypes of it held by some Montanans. As the only "Butte rat" on the team, he sang a vulgar cheer celebrating his origin before each game.
-affiliated NFL Draft Scout assessed Anderson as the 13th-ranked of the 106 free safeties available for the 2009 NFL Draft
, and considered him as a potential seventh round selection or free agent. A Scout.com assessment commended his instincts and tackling, but described his size as "marginal for the NFL" and said he was more suited for zone coverage than man-to-man. Anderson said, "Shoot, I'm like any other person. I'll watch the first 10 picks, or maybe the first round, and then just check on it from time to time. Any NFL fan will watch that first round. Once the second round starts, I’ll be laying around, taking a nap."
signed him as an undrafted free agent, which included a $20,000 signing bonus, a comparatively large sum. Anderson said, "I just felt Minnesota was the best opportunity for me. They thought I could have an impact for them."
On September 5, 2010, Anderson was signed to the practice squad by the Vikings.
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
free safety for the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL). He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Montana.
Early years
Anderson was born on October 25, 1985 in Butte, MontanaButte, Montana
Butte is a city in Montana and the county seat of Silver Bow County, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. As of the 2010 census, Butte's population was 34,200...
to parents Mike and Michele Anderson. Two of his uncles played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Montana during the 1970s. He attended Butte High School where he lettered in football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
and basketball for three years, and track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
twice. He played football as a running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
and safety. As a junior, he was named honorable mention all-state, and as a senior in 2003, was an all-state first-team safety and honorable mention running back. Over the course of his career, Anderson recorded 310 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
, nine interceptions, 850 rushing yards
Rush (American football)
Rushing has two different meanings in gridiron football .-Offense:The first is an action taken by the offensive team that means to advance the ball by running, as opposed to passing. A run is technically any play that does not involve a forward pass...
, and 12 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s. He was not recruited out of high school and chose to attend the University of Montana.
College career
Anderson attended the University of Montana where he studied business administration. He walked onto the team, and sat out the 2004 season on redshirtRedshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
status. In 2005, he saw action in five games on special teams, but suffered a broken thumb after making a tackle against Oregon
2005 Oregon Ducks football team
In 2005, Oregon had success behind senior quarterback Kellen Clemens and a new spread offense. During a game at Arizona, Clemens suffered a broken ankle. At that point Oregon was 8-1 , and still in the hunt for a BCS game...
. His injury curtailed his playing time, and he finished the season having recorded seven tackles. During the offseason, he worked to improve his conditioning and impressed the coaching staff enough to garner a scholarship
Athletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
. In 2006, Anderson started
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
all 14 games and recorded 92 tackles. The conference named him to the All-Big Sky
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
first-team as both a safety and on special teams. When asked if he looks for "big-hit opportunit[ies]" in 2006, he said, "I just like to fly around and make plays and every now and then you’ll come across a guy that you can hit." In 2007, he started in all 14 games. Anderson tallied 85 tackles including 58 solo and seven for loss, three forced fumbles, four interceptions, and nine pass deflections. The conference again named Anderson to the All-Big Sky first team, while The Sports Network
The Sports Network
The Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
named him an honorable mention All-American
2007 College Football All-America Team
The 2007 College Football All-America Team is composed of the following All-American Teams: Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Weekly, ESPN, CBS Sports, College...
, and College Sporting News named him to its "Fabulous Fifty" team.
In 2008
2008 Montana Grizzlies football team
The 2008 Montana Grizzlies football team represented the University of Montana in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Championship Subdivision college football during the 2008 season...
, Anderson served as the team captain and saw action in all 16 games. He recorded 129 tackles including 63 solo and 6.5 for loss, one quarterback sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
, three interceptions returned for 80 yards, six passes broken-up, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. That season, Montana advanced to the national championship game before falling to Richmond
2008 Richmond Spiders football team
The 2008 Richmond Spiders football team represented the University of Richmond in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Championship Subdivision college football during the 2008 season...
, 24–7. Anderson was selected as a Buck Buchanan Award
Buck Buchanan Award
The Buck Buchanan Award is awarded annually to the most outstanding defensive player in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision of college football, and was first given in 1995 after the Walter Payton Award was designated solely for offensive players.The trophy was named in honor of the...
candidate. The conference named him an All-Big Sky player for the third year and he also received the team's most valuable player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
honors. Virtually every FCS All-America team selector named him to its first team. The American Football Coaches Association
American Football Coaches Association
The American Football Coaches Association is an association of over 11,000 football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the profession of...
, Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, College Sporting News, and the Walter Camp Foundation named Anderson to their first teams, while the Sports Network named him an honorable mention All-American. After the season, he participated in the Texas vs. the Nation
Texas vs. The Nation Game
The NFLPA Game is a post-season college football all-star game that was established in 2006 as the concluding game of the college football post-season. The game is currently played at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The game was previously known as the Texas vs...
all-star game. Anderson readily embraced his hometown of Butte, despite the negative associated stereotypes of it held by some Montanans. As the only "Butte rat" on the team, he sang a vulgar cheer celebrating his origin before each game.
Pre-draft
The CBS SportsCBS Sports
CBS Sports is a division of CBS Broadcasting which airs sporting events on the American television network. Its headquarters are in the CBS Building on West 52nd Street in midtown Manhattan, New York City, with programs produced out of Studio 43 at the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street.CBS...
-affiliated NFL Draft Scout assessed Anderson as the 13th-ranked of the 106 free safeties available for the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
, and considered him as a potential seventh round selection or free agent. A Scout.com assessment commended his instincts and tackling, but described his size as "marginal for the NFL" and said he was more suited for zone coverage than man-to-man. Anderson said, "Shoot, I'm like any other person. I'll watch the first 10 picks, or maybe the first round, and then just check on it from time to time. Any NFL fan will watch that first round. Once the second round starts, I’ll be laying around, taking a nap."
Minnesota Vikings
Anderson was not selected in the draft, but he reported that ten teams pursued him shortly afterward. The Minnesota VikingsMinnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
signed him as an undrafted free agent, which included a $20,000 signing bonus, a comparatively large sum. Anderson said, "I just felt Minnesota was the best opportunity for me. They thought I could have an impact for them."
On September 5, 2010, Anderson was signed to the practice squad by the Vikings.
Philadelphia Eagles
Anderson was signed to a three-year contract off of the Vikings' practice squad on November 9, 2010 by the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.