Anderson has over 1,000 yards rushing and 15 total touchdowns through seven games
Watch Top Football Plays 2015, Episode 8, featuring Malik Anderson’s 70-yard touchdown run as the No. 7 play. (Video by Nick Plum for Synthesis/Koubaroulis LLC / The Washington Post)
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October 20, 2015, 12:40 p.m. — Coming off two seasons in he which he was used primarily as a receiver playing behind more experienced running backs and undergoing offseason surgery to repair his torn labrum, Howard’s Malik Anderson entered his senior year healthy and as the featured entity out of the backfield.
He has taken advantage of the opportunity.
Through seven games this season, Anderson has 1,078 yards and 15 total touchdowns, getting the ball nearly 20 times per game out of the backfield alone in addition to being used in the passing game and as a returner. Last year through seven games, Anderson had just 150 yards rushing.
The Lions are riding their rising star to a 7-0 record and are currently ranked No. 14 in the Washington Post All-Met poll. The squad out of Ellicott City, Md. has not lost a regular season game since October 11, 2013.
“After losing 31 seniors, in the offseason we worked harder than we did before,” Anderson said, “and we said we’re not going to go from an undefeated team to a mediocre team, and it motivated us to play harder and harder.”
According to Anderson, last year’s team was better defensively but this year the group has more threats offensively.
Although he didn’t get many touches as a running back in previous years, Anderson has always been a touchdown magnet. In 2014, Anderson finished the season with 15 touchdowns, playoffs included, due largely to his strong work in the receiving and return game.
In the last two games, Anderson has touchdown runs of 70 and 80 yards.
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The 5-foot-6, 160-pound back has an annual touchdown competition with his older brother Michael, who is in his junior campaign as a running back with West Virginia Wesleyan and has seven scores thus far in 2015. Although Michael would claim the bragging rights during his days with the Lions, Malik uses the contest as motivation and has taken charge of the family duel in recent seasons.
“We’ve had that competition since we were really young,” Malik said, “now I’ve been beating him for the past three years.”
The Lions have had a series of strong running backs during Anderson’s tenure. Two years ago, Terrell Charles was the featured back, followed by Najee Savage last season, who finished with over 1,500 yards.
Anderson is on pace to eclipse the 1,500 yard mark in the final game of the regular season, with an opportunity to extend in the playoffs. Entering the season, his goal was just to reach the century mark.
“I reached the first part of it, getting to 1,000, next step is trying to get to that 2,000 mark,” Anderson said.
He credits his booming success to getting his shoulder healthy, the solid offensive line in front of him, and the hard work he put in during the offseason with his family.
“Every year I’ve been progressing, and this year I just went on top,” Anderson said. “After my surgery I had some setbacks, but I worked with my father and brother all summer to get me back to where I was and better.”
As a result of the hard work, Anderson identified his strengths as his vision, his ability to make cuts and his work in the open field.
“When I’m running I just don’t stop my feet, people say my footwork is ridiculous,” Anderson said.
In order to make it to the next level, however, he hopes to improve his size in the weight room and his speed. As a late bloomer, Anderson is yet to receive interest from colleges, but is hoping to draw interest from coaches over his last few weeks with the Lions.
“That’s my goal, I’m hoping I get there,” Anderson said.
Despite being undersized, he believes his versatility can make him an asset to a college roster.
“Wherever I’m dangerous I’ll go there,” Anderson said. “I’m good at returning and the coaches move me around a lot.”
After not getting into the end zone in the opening week this season, Anderson has at least two touchdowns in every game since, meaning he has 15 scores in his last six games. With his recent highlight touchdown runs of 70 and 80 yards, he is gaining momentum on social media.
His dream school is West Virginia, with Maryland high on his list as well. However, he is looking at some smaller schools, including Monmouth, Delaware, Towson and a handful of Division II programs.
“I just have to ball out on the field and work hard on my books,” Anderson said.
For Anderson, he hopes to find a school that is a good academic fit as he hopes to study athletic training, as well as having a strong football program with good facilities.
Nearing the end of his blossoming prep career, all he can hope for is a heavy workload on a team that has won 21 consecutive regular season contests.
The Lions return to action Friday at Long Reach (2-5).
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