Grad transfer OT talks AU visit, upcoming decision
AUBURN | Calvin Anderson needs a temporary home, a place to better prepare him for the NFL.
It’s why Anderson, a graduate transfer offensive tackle from Rice, is searching for a school to play his final year of eligibility, and why he was in Auburn this weekend on an official visit.
“I got a lot of my questions answered and even more questions answered than I had,” Anderson said. “I could both literally and theoretically (see myself at Auburn) because we put the uniforms on, so I could definitely see it. I had a really good weekend.”
Anderson arrived in Auburn on Friday. His father, stepmother and stepsister all arrived on Saturday. They met with Auburn coach Gus Malzahn, offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey and offensive line coach J.B. Grimes.
“All of those guys are genuine, and I enjoyed that,” Anderson said. “I was happy to have the family here. They were really happy and it seems like they got a really good feel. My stepmom is really, really good gauging about whether or not people are legitimate. She’s a lawyer, so she’s a big help. You can’t get by her.”
Anderson spent a lot of time Saturday meeting with Grimes.
“I was happy about that the most,” Anderson said. “We sat down for almost an hour and a half and just talked football, fundamentals, what he saw on film, what he thinks he could help me with specifically and that’s the stuff that I really wanted to get into. All the aesthetics are great, but at the end of the day it comes down to football.”
Anderson also met several players during his visit, including Darius Slayton, Chandler Cox, Calvin Ashley and Mike Horton. He saw the depth chart and how he could compete for a starting position. He also saw an addition role he could play at Auburn.
“It’s very important for me to come in and have a chance to start. That’s first and foremost,” Anderson said. “But with Auburn, I’d also have the opportunity to be in a leadership role with some of the younger guys. I got to meet some of the guys over the weekend, Calvin and Mike, and they are good guys. I would be grateful to be in a position that I could counsel them, give them some of the wisdom I’ve gained over the years.”
Anderson left Auburn on Sunday with a lot to consider. He already has visited Texas and Michigan and the two join Auburn in his top three. He doesn’t have any other visits scheduled at this time, although he’s considering Oklahoma and Texas A&M.
“After I sit down and process this visit, talk with my family and think through it all, I’ll go from there and figure out whether or not I’ll do the Oklahoma visit,” Anderson said. “We’ll see. This visit was a big factor in that decision.”
Anderson initially planned to announce his final decision in March, but it could come sooner. He expects it to.
“I don’t want to drag this thing out, so I think it will be before March 25,” he said.
Anderson’s family lives in Austin, Texas, which could make the decision to stay home an easy one. Not for Anderson.
“(My family) lives in Austin, but proximity to home is not much of a factor because I am trying to go to the best place for seven months to get prepared the best,” Anderson said. “It’s great to be home, all that’s great, but that’s not really weighing into this decision because this is a business decision. I’m taking into account what can make me better, and I don’t think proximity to home has anything to do with that.”