University of Virginia Library

Player Of The Week

Anderson Tapped For Fine Runs

Photo By Bob Gill

Fullback Jeff Anderson, Player Of The Week, Opens Up On Way To Another Big Gain Through Hapless Blue Devils' Line

Anderson Recorded Outstanding Game Against Duke Saturday, Picking Up 183 Yards On Ground, Scoring Three Big Touchdowns

One utterly unsung hero of the
Cavaliers through the first three
games of the season was fullback
Jeff Anderson, this week's Player of
the Week. While Frank Quayle, his
backfield mate, ran opponents
dizzy, and quarterback Gene
Amette filled the airways with
brilliant passes, Anderson was
saddled with the dreary task of
picking up the frequently needed
and difficult-to-get last three yards
for the first down.

Duke got a different dose of
Anderson, to the tune of 183 yards
in 24 carries, along with three
touchdowns to his credit.

Playing fullback has not been a
life-long occupation of Jeff's. In
high school, he played quarterback
and linebacker for Mariemount
High School in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Moreover, Anderson is not only
a top-flight football player, but a
truly all-around athlete. He rated
All-City honors in Cincinnati in
basketball as well, and ran as a
sprinter on his school's track team.
Only Quayle and Paul Reeve are
faster over 40 yards in full
equipment.

Upon arriving at Virginia, Jeff
found himself retired from the
ranks of the quarterback. At 6′2″
and 215 lbs., the
coaching staff
thought that
Anderson's
talents would be
put to better use
at the split end
position.

He more than
justified their
expectations. In
his second year,
he started every
game at the split
end position, and
along with Ed
Carrington at
tight end formed
a more than
capable receiving
corps for golden
boy quarterback
Bob Davis.

Fullback Jeff Anderson

Following the 1966 season,
Anderson once again found himself
a victim of the brainstorming
coaching staff. By the time the
spring game rolled around,
surprised fans
found of all
people Anderson
at fullback, filling
the vacancy left
by Carroll Jarvis.
After a lackluster
spring game at
fullback, people
were wondering
just how prudent
the coaches'
decision was.

This apprehension
grew in
the first games of
the 1967 season,
as Anderson had
difficulty holding
on to the
football, and
didn't seem to be
able to hit

And then the picture changed.
Anderson quickly picked up the
fullback's technique, developing
into a skilled blocker and a
dangerous runner.

This fact is justified by his
standing in the final statistics last
fall. He managed to rack up 774
yards on the ground, at 4.2 yards
per carry.

In a word, Anderson can be best
described as versatile. He is an
excellent pass receiver, a threat to
pass on the fullback option, and a
powerful, shifty runner. And don't
think the pro scouts aren't aware of
this fact: he should go quickly
when the pro teams make their
selections this winter.