April 27, 2013
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Former Cal tailback C.J. Anderson has signed a college free agent contract with the Denver Broncos on Saturday according to the NFL team's official website.
"I'm just glad I have an opportunity to play, and I always have to grind the hard way," Anderson said. "I will make it."
Anderson played in all 25 games possible with two starts during his two campaigns at Cal from 2011-12 after transferring to the school for his final two seasons of collegiate eligibility following two campaigns at Laney College. Anderson finished his Cal career with 1,135 yards rushing on 198 carries for an average of 5.73 yards per rush while scoring 12 touchdowns on the ground. He added 22 receptions for 350 yards and two touchdown catches to give him a total of 84 points on 14 TDs. He had three career 100-yard rushing games, all as a 2012 senior.
Anderson played in all 12 games with his lone two career starts as a senior in 2012, mostly splitting the primary tailback position with Isi Sofele as the two were listed on the depth chart as co-starters all season. Anderson led the Bears with 790 rushing yards on 126 carries (second behind Sofele), both career highs, while sharing the team lead along with Sofele with four rushing touchdowns to be named Cal's Most Valuable Back on the offensive side of the ball. He combined with Sofele (757 yards) for 1,547 yards rushing to give Cal 1,500 or more rushing yards by its top two rushers for the 10th consecutive campaign. Anderson averaged 65.83 rushing yards per game to rank 10th in the Pac-12 and 99th nationally. Anderson added 15 catches for 164 yards and one touchdown reception while finishing with 954 all purpose yards (790 rushing, 164 receiving) to rank third on the team. He also ranked third on the squad with 30 points on a total of five scores.
Anderson joined the Bears in 2011 as a junior college transfer from Laney College and played in all 13 games off the bench, rushing 72 times for 345 yards and a career-high eight touchdowns (all second on the team to Sofele). Anderson combined with Sofele (1,322 yards, 10 TDs) for 1,667 yards rushing to give Cal 1,500 or more rushing yards by its top two rushers for the ninth consecutive campaign, which the duo would extend to 10 straight seasons in 2012. Anderson added seven receptions for 186 yards and a touchdown that came on a 74-yard pass from Zach Maynard in the regular-season finale at Arizona State. He was second on the team in total touchdowns with nine, third in scoring (54 points) and total offense (345 yards), and fourth with 551 all purpose yards (345 rushing, 186 receiving, 20 kick return). He came on strong at the end of the regular season with 195 of his 345 rushing yards, four of his eight rushing scores, five of his seven receptions, 167 of his 186 receiving yards and his lone touchdown reception coming in the final four regular-season contests.
Anderson was second in the state of California and the NorCal Conference leader in rushing as a sophomore at Laney College in 2010 to earn first-team All-American, All-State and All-NorCal Conference honors, racking up 1,644 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground over 206 rushes for an average of 7.4 yards per carry.
Anderson is the first former Cal player to sign a contract with an NFL team following the completion of the 2013 NFL Draft. TB C.J. Anderson signed a college free agent contract with Denver on Saturday.
Anderson was one of five former Cal players along with 2013 NFL Draft selections Keenan Allen (San Diego Chargers, third round, No. 76 overall), Marc Anthony (Baltimore Ravens, seventh round, No. 247 overall) that attended the NFL Combine in February along with Allen, Schwenke, Williams and Anthony. Anderson ranked among the event's top running backs in the 20-yard shuttle (T3rd, 4.12), broad jump (T13th, 119.0") and 40-yard dash (4.60).
Other former Cal players who completed their collegiate eligibility in 2012 but were not selected for the 2013 NFL Draft that attended local pro days hosted by Cal and/or the San Francisco 49ers include TB Covaughn DeBoskie-Johnson (played senior year at Northern Arizona), DB Tyré Ellison, DB Josh Hill, FB Kameron Krebs, TB Mike Manuel, QB Zach Maynard, LB Robert Mullins, DL Kendrick Payne, TB Isi Sofele, FB Eric Stevens, OL Matt Summers-Gavin and DL Aaron Tipoti.
Many players who are not drafted typically join NFL rosters shortly after the NFL Draft by signing undrafted free agent contracts.
Cal Football Current Players in the NFL
AS OF APRIL 27, 2013 - ACCORDING TO ESPN.COM
Name Team Position
Lorenzo Alexander Arizona Cardinals LB
Keenan Allen San Diego Chargers WR
Tyson Alualu Jacksonville Jaguars DT
C.J. Anderson Denver Broncos RB
Bryan Anger Jacksonville Jaguars P
Marc Anthony Baltimore Ravens CB
Nnamdi Asomugha San Francisco 49ers CB
Jahvid Best Detroit Lions RB
Desmond Bishop Green Bay Packers LB
Keith Browner Houston Texans DE
Michael Calvin Tennessee Titans WR
D.J. Campbell Carolina Panthers S
Andre Carter Oakland Raiders DE
Sean Cattouse San Diego Chargers S
Justin Cheadle Pittsburgh Steelers G
Chris Conte Chicago Bears S
Brian De La Puente New Orleans Saints C
Thomas DeCoud Atlanta Falcons S
Justin Forsett Jacksonville Jaguars RB
Mike Gibson Arizona Cardinals G
Tony Gonzalez Atlanta Falcons TE
Lavelle Hawkins Tennessee Titans WR
DeSean Jackson Philadelphia Eagles WR
Marvin Jones Cincinnati Bengals WR
Cameron Jordan New Orleans Saints DE
Mychal Kendricks Philadelphia Eagles LB
Ryan Longwell Seattle Seahawks PK
Marshawn Lynch Seattle Seahawks PK
Alex Mack Cleveland Browns OL
Brandon Mebane Seattle Seahawks DT
Mike Mohamed Houston Texans LB
Cameron Morrah Seattle Seahawks TE
Ernest Owusu Tampa Bay Buccaneers DE
Aaron Rodgers Green Bay Packers QB
Jeremy Ross Green Bay Packers WR
Mitchell Schwartz Cleveland Browns OL
Brian Schwenke Tennessee Titans OL
Craig Stevens Tennessee Titans TE
Nick Sundberg Washington Redskins LS
Will Ta'ufo'ou Jacksonville Jaguars FB
Giorgio Tavecchio Green Bay Packers PK
Shane Vereen New England Patriots RB
Steve Williams San Diego Chargers CB
