Curtis Anderson
Safety / Western Oregon

Alex Khvatov:  What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?

Curtis Anderson:  I am 6’2, 205 and I haven’t run a forty.    

Alex Khvatov:  How are you currently preparing for the 2020 season with no offseason training?

Curtis Anderson:  Lots of conditioning, field drills and natural movement.  Our strength and conditioning coach has been sending us workouts.  She has been sending us a lot of core workouts.      

Alex Khvatov:  Besides football, what other sports did you play in high school?

Curtis Anderson:  Freshman year, I wrestled.  I was also a basketball player.  I wanted to play basketball and football at the university.  I stopped playing basketball at Western Oregon after my redshirt freshman year.  I wanted to focus on football because those two sports overlap in terms of time.  You join the basketball team a month late after the football season is over.  I primarily realized that I have a shot in football because of the progress I was making.    

Alex Khvatov:  What positions did you play in high school? 

Curtis Anderson:  QB and CB.  I was a starting QB my senior year of high school.  I played CB all four years.    

Alex Khvatov:  Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?

Curtis Anderson:  In high school, I was working a lot on basketball.  There was a thought that I might go and play basketball at Oregon State as a walk-on.  Some JUCO football programs in CA were looking at me.  Western Oregon contacted me about football, but I didn’t want to give up on basketball.  The football coach at Western Oregon called the basketball coach and they worked it out.  I played both sports in the beginning.  I took a redshirt year, and I realized that I won’t continue with basketball.  I left and have played three years of football.      

Alex Khvatov:  Why did you choose Western Oregon?

Curtis Anderson:  It was the only offer.  They allowed me to play both sports.  I committed to them right away.   

Alex Khvatov:  Describe your overall career.    

Curtis Anderson:  I came in and redshirted.  I have started every game ever since.  The program was on a downward trajectory when I first came.  I didn’t want the culture to slide out.  We improved the team’s competitive atmosphere.  We pushed for guys to want it more.  We were recruiting younger guys who were eager to work and play.  We have added wins every year.  The program has grown.  I have started every game.  The last two years, I have made first team all-conference as a DB.  I have also made first team as a returner my junior year. 

Alex Khvatov:  What are your strengths?

Curtis Anderson:  I have a high football IQ.  It comes from me playing QB in high school.  I was transitioning to play CB at first in college.  Now I play safety.  I have the versatility to play outside and in the slot.  I rotate between SS and FS.  I can play in the box and over the top.  I play fast and hard.  I have very good length.  I can line up against the TE and a slot receiver.   

Alex Khvatov:  What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?

Curtis Anderson:  I need to refine my technique and become more of a lockdown slot defender.  Improve my eyes and be quicker in terms of making the run to pass read.  See things better before they happen.  My strongest quality is I am competitive.  I always try to win every rep in practice smoothly and efficiently.      

Alex Khvatov:  What is the highlight of your career up to this point?

Curtis Anderson:  Definitely the entire season last year.  Winning the conference championship.  It was the first one in our school history. 

Alex Khvatov:  What is the biggest lesson that you have taken away from your coaching staff? 

Curtis Anderson:  Coach Ferguson allows people to grow.  I came from a small high school in a small town.  I was underdeveloped.  I didn’t have the resources.  I wasn’t part of the seven on seven leagues.  I had the desire to work and had strong competitiveness.  This school gave me an opportunity to grow.  They allowed me to make mistakes, but I was never yanked out of the game.  I improved my game here.        

Alex Khvatov:  What is your favorite NFL team?

Curtis Anderson:  I never miss a 49ers game, as far as I can remember since I have been seven years old.    

Alex Khvatov:  Who is your favorite NFL player?

Curtis Anderson:  I like a lot of guys.  I love Tom Brady.  I like to watch him compete.  Jamal Adams, Derwin James and Jalen Ramsey.   

Alex Khvatov:  Before the ball is snapped, what are the tendencies that you are looking for from the offense? 

Curtis Anderson:  I make most of our secondary calls for the defense.  I look at the receiver strengths, and what defense we are running.  I am looking at whether it is a run or a pass.  I look at the O-lineman.  I look at the splits of receivers.    

Alex Khvatov:  What players on your team should we keep an eye on for this upcoming season?

Curtis Anderson:  We have a really good interior OL Jakob Pruitt.  He started the past two years.  He works hard.  We have an exceptional RB Omari Land.  He will be a junior and he is a workhorse.  LB Jaylin Parnell is a major contributor on defense.  Safety Joey Sinclair and Ryan Minniti.  They are both talented players.  They are rangy and make great plays.  They should have breakout years as juniors.      

Alex Khvatov:  Who is the best player that you have faced on an opposing team?

Curtis Anderson:  RB from Humboldt State Ja’Quan Gardner.  He was a senior two years ago.  He spent time with the 49ers and was in the XFL.    

Alex Khvatov:  What is the most important trait for a safety?

Curtis Anderson:  Just my versatility.  You don’t get to do the same exact thing on back to back plays.  You are asked to do a lot out of the safety position.      

Alex Khvatov:  What do you enjoy most about football?

Curtis Anderson:  Just competing.  I love football.  I have fun doing it.  It pushes you to be better.  It is a competitive sport and a team game.      

Alex Khvatov:  What is your definition of a leader?

Curtis Anderson:  I have been a captain since my sophomore year.  A leader is someone who doesn’t get down on his guys.  A mark of a real good leader is to help guys realize that it is never over.  The desire and belief in people around you that you can get things done.  I have never been down on my guys.    

Alex Khvatov:  What can we expect from Western Oregon this upcoming season? 

Curtis Anderson:  We had our best season this past year.  We lost a lot of talented guys in important roles.  But we have established a great culture.  We learned how to win.  There is a general feeling that this could be a big year for us.  We are looking to have a special season.  We want to win a conference title and make a playoff run. 

Alex Khvatov:  What are your hobbies?

Curtis Anderson:  Video games and fishing.  During church camps, my cousins would sleep until 10, but I would be up at six in the morning.  I was trying to make fish traps.  I developed my love for fishing when I was young.     

Alex Khvatov:  What makes you unique?

Curtis Anderson:  There are a couple of things.  My faith plays a huge role.  It is the center of my life.  It is who I am.  I am also very competitive in everything.  I am a thinker.  I am an English writing major.  I am a thoughtful person.  I do everything with intention. 

Alex Khvatov:  What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?

Curtis Anderson:  I plan to graduate in the fall of 2020.  I definitely want to be a college football coach.  I also would like to do writing and journalism. 

Alex Khvatov:  What five words best describe you? 

Curtis Anderson:  Faithful, competitive, hope, leader, and energetic.