Walnut Creek's Tyler Anderson Adjusting to College Football at Oregon State

When Walnut Creek resident Tyler Anderson walked off the field of his final high school football game last December, a 28-14 victory for De La Salle over Crenshaw-Los Angeles in the CIF Open Division State Championship Bowl game  in Carson, it was a perfect finale to an illustrious career. 

During Anderson's time at De La Salle, the Spartans won two state titles, captured three North Coast Section crowns, and the 5-foot-11, 185-pound running back/defensive back finished his senior season with 1,292 rushing yards, and 23 touchdowns. In his final game, he racked up 90 yards and a 5-yard touchdown run.

"I knew I was going to miss that feeling," Anderson said, of his playing days at De La Salle. "I knew nothing would be the same, and I would be starting a whole new chapter in life, a whole new book." 

That book started in May, when Anderson decided to accept an offer at Oregon State University, to join the team as a preferred walk-on for the 2010 football season.

The first chapter began on July 11th, when Anderson and his fellow Oregon State freshman moved to Corvallis to participate in the university's BRIDGE program,  a four-week summer session that includes two college courses, running and weight training, and the chance to acclimate to college life and the dorms before the Fall quarter gets underway. The classes include sociology, study skills and a nightly team study hall.

Two weeks into the program, Anderson is trying to absorb everything he can about the university and the football program.

"We've been busy, every single day," said Anderson, "from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., it's been school, football and eating."

Joining Anderson in Corvallis will be De La Salle teammate Terron Ward, who will enroll at the school January as a grey-shirt.

"I'm very excited for him to get up here," Anderson said.

The dynamic duo amassed 45 combined touchdowns combined in 2009, making them one of the best backfield combinations in the history of the storied football program.

At Oregon State, however, they will get the chance to square off in practice on opposite sides of the ball.

Ward will continue on as a running back, while Anderson will play on the defensive side of the ball, as a cornerback.

"It will be kind of funny (lining up across the ball from each other)," Anderson said. "We shared a lot during our four years at De La Salle."

Before his success on the gridiron, Anderson was a standout on the basketball courts and soccer fields of Walnut Creek, playing for St. Mary's CYO and the Walnut Creek Soccer Club, respectively.

But upon arriving at De La Salle, Anderson picked up organized football for the first time and immediately loved it. 

Although he stopped playing basketball and soccer, Anderson spent three seasons on the track team and found similar success, including a North Coast Section title as a member of the team's 400 meter relay team in his senior year.

After going through the football recruiting process, and with his first two weeks on campus in Corvallis under his belt, Anderson see's a lot of similarities between the De La Salle program and Oregon State.

"When I was being recruited, the Oregon State coaching staff really cared about me as a person," Anderson said. "And since being up here, there's a real sense of brotherhood – we're like a family." 

Another common theme is the dedication and hard work displayed in the weight room and the early acceptance of the upperclassmen on the team.

"We've been able to spend time with them up here and they've been really cool to us."

The BRIDGE program wraps up in two weeks, and after a few days back home in Walnut Creek, its back up to Oregon for the start of Fall camp on August 8th, and the Fall quarter in September, where Anderson will be majoring in New Media Communications.

As a preferred walk-on, Anderson is a member of the team, with the opportunity to receive a scholarship in the future.

"My goal will be to receive a scholarship by the end of the season, but I'm just taking it one step at a time."

As for lessons learned at De La Salle that he can take with him to college and the Pac-10?

"Work hard, love your brothers, and make sure to have each other's back." 

Words that all aspiring athletes can live by.

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