Joe Anderson
Offensive Guard
Ohio

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

Joe Anderson:  Height was 6’5 ½, 320.  My bench press was 18 and my vertical was 28.5. 

Alex Khvatov:  Where are you currently training for the NFL Draft?

Joe Anderson:  Before the pro day, I was at Boost performance in Nashville.  Now I am training with my strength coach at the school.  I am doing rehab for the ankle.    

Alex Khvatov:  How is your recovery going from the injury? 

Joe Anderson:  I hurt my ankle on the vertical.  I rolled it when I came down on it.  I have been recovering for the last two weeks and I am running again.  I should be 100% the week before the draft.   

Alex Khvatov:  Describe your overall experience at the NFLPA Bowl.

Joe Anderson:  It was a great experience.  It was nice getting work with great people.  Coach Slater was our OL coach.  It was great being able to compete against the bigger schools.    

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

Joe Anderson:  Coming out of high school, I had some small D-II schools coming out of Los Angeles.  I went the JUCO route.  I went to El Camino junior college in Torrance, CA.  I spent one season there.  Ohio came in and offered me to transfer.      

Alex Khvatov:  Why did you choose Ohio?

Joe Anderson:  Ohio was the first offer.  I wanted to do the mid-year transfer.  It is the only school to offer it, so I can be there for the spring.    

Alex Khvatov:  What are your strengths?

Joe Anderson:  Football intelligence helps me a lot.  My Playing strength is pretty high.  I am a big body.  I move pretty well for someone my size.   

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

Joe Anderson:  Getting my weight down.  I played at 342 this season.  Now I am at 320 pounds.  I am a lot more comfortable.  I lost the weight right way and I did it the right way when I started training for the draft.  It made me more explosive and athletic.    

Alex Khvatov:  Tell us about your overall career.

Joe Anderson:  First year, I redshirted.  We went to a bowl and lost.  My redshirt sophomore year, I played about 40-45 plays a game.  I got my first career start in the MAC Championship game.  Next two years, I established myself as a starter.  I was a second team All-MAC as a junior, and we won the Bahamas bowl.  As a senior, I was a first team All-MAC, and we won the bowl game in Texas.     

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

Joe Anderson:  Definitely the two bowl game wins.  It is always good to end the season on a high note.    

Alex Khvatov:  What is your biggest accomplishment in college that you are most proud of?

Joe Anderson:  Personally, moving away from CA and coming out to Ohio.  Being away from my family and accepting that.  I was able to succeed on and off the field.    

Alex Khvatov:  What have you learned the most from your coaching staff?

Joe Anderson:  The biggest lesson from the coaching staff is just to work hard.  Come in every day, work hard and see the improvement in your game.    

Alex Khvatov:  What is your favorite NFL team?

Joe Anderson:  The favorite team is the Browns.  I didn’t have a team growing up in CA.  When I moved to Ohio, all of my friends here are Browns fans.  I inherited being a Browns fan from them.    

Alex Khvatov:  Who is your favorite NFL player?

Joe Anderson:  It will always be Jeff Saturday.  I had his jerseys.  I loved everything about him.  He was an undrafted guy.  He didn’t have the recognition coming out of college.  He worked his way up and became a great player.  I also liked Peyton Manning growing up.      

Alex Khvatov:  What is the most important trait for an OL?

Joe Anderson:  Intelligence and toughness.    

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

Joe Anderson:  I am checking to see what technique the OL are playing in.  I am looking at the pressure that they have in their hands.  I look at the linebackers and how they are lined up.  I am looking for the corner blitz and look at the safeties.    

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

Joe Anderson:  QB Nathan Rourke and safety Javon Hagan.  Austen Pleasants will play LT this year.  He played RT last year.      

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

Joe Anderson:  #96 from Cincinnati (Cortez Broughton) was a really good player.    

Alex Khvatov:  What do you enjoy most about football?

Joe Anderson:  The team aspect.  I love being around the guys.  I enjoy the whole brotherhood with the guys.    

Alex Khvatov:  What are your hobbies?

Joe Anderson:  Lately, I have been into reading.  Growing up in CA, I always enjoyed going to the beach and playing beach volleyball.  I have a dog.  I like taking her to the dog park. 

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

Joe Anderson:  I want to go into coaching.  High school or college.    

Alex Khvatov:  What five words best describe you?

Joe Anderson:  Tough, intelligent, hard-working, nice and funny.