Commitment Report: Jack Anderson (2018)

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Despite how much fun Holy Angels senior <strong>Jack Anderson</strong> was having during the recruiting process, and how much time he still had to make his decision, the two-year starter found a fit he liked, and he took it. With five different offers, Anderson committed not only to a program; he committed to a coaching staff and a community.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">After the football season, the Stars&#39; linebacker played on the basketball team and ran on the track team, but his primary focus was getting ready for his senior season on the football field.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">"I spent most of my winter in the weight room trying to get myself and my teammates ready for next year," Anderson said. "This summer I&#39;ve been on a lot of visits and have done a lot of weight training."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The recruiting journey was a ride Anderson enjoyed.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">"It was a great experience," Anderson said. "I had a lot of fun. It was kind of like a game. Once the first offer came in it was exciting. I got to see some different schools. I went to some states I had never been to. I loved every school I went to."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Anderson was deciding between Western Illinois, Navy and South Dakota State. In the end, he decided to be a Leatherneck.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">"Western went out of their way to know me as a person," NFN&#39;s 14th ranked player from the 2018 class said. "They like to play my type of football which is hard-nosed, blue collar and downhill all the time. They have a great coaching staff and turn out good linebackers every year."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Anderson said the Leathernecks&#39; coaches liked his linear speed for his size but would like to see him become more fluid in his movements. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Another reason the linebacker liked Western Illinois was the opportunity to play multiple positions. The 3-4 base defense might have Anderson playing middle or outside linebacker, defensive end or even some fullback. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">By the time Anderson gets on campus, the program will have graduated a lot of linebackers and will be looking for the young guys to step in and compete for starting spots.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">A selling point for Anderson was the town Western Illinois calls home - Macomb.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">"The town has a nice college town feel to it," Anderson told NFN. "You can feel in the air that everyone comes to the football games in town. It is a big part of the culture, and I could tell everyone there are die hard Leatherneck fans."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">"I love the town," Anderson continued. "I love the small town football feel, and I like their type of play."</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">In the end, he found a place that – for Anderson - had the full package.</span></span></p>