Ever since I was in the second grade, I’ve always wanted to play Division I college football.”

James Anderson

The kid is a leader. On and off the field he’s been tremendous.”

Kent School Football Coach Wayne Clarke

James Anderson has wanted to play Division I college football for a long time.

The recent Barrington High School graduate and post-graduate student at Kent School in Connecticut has dreamed of stepping onto a D-I football field since he was seven years old. 

That dream will become reality this fall. 

Anderson recently committed to play football for Bryant University next fall. The Division I Bulldogs compete in the Big South/Ohio Valley Conference.

“Ever since I was in the second grade, I’ve always wanted to play Division I college football,” Anderson said during a recent interview. “For me, I grew up in the game. It was always just there. The game means a lot to me… It’s more than just a sport, it’s brotherhood, a way of life.”

Anderson grew up an Eagle. He started his football career playing for Barrington Pop Warner, and continued it at Barrington High School. He played quarterback and defensive back for the BHS Eagles and helped the team win a Super Bowl during his junior year and earn a spot in the playoffs his senior year. 

Following graduation at Barrington, Anderson weighed his options. 

“Coming out of Barrington I kind of had the mindset that I was going to re-class,” Anderson said, adding that he chose the route of a prep school and higher level college football over playing at a Division III school. 

Eventually, he decided to enroll at Kent School in Kent, Conn. 

“I was referred there by Brown University,” Anderson said. “I met with the coach at Kent. I felt that connection and bond. He was genuine.” 

The prep school offered Anderson an opportunity to enhance his study habits and his football prowess. He was named QB1 and relished the role. He also bulked up, adding about 20 pounds to his frame.

“This prep school league is a very, very competitive league,” Anderson said. 

The former Eagle said Founders League football action presented plenty of challenges. He said the game moved faster than in high school, and the competition was top-notch. Kent School faced teams with players who had committed to Power Five college programs — teams such as Wisconsin and Michigan, Clemson and Tennessee. 

“It was definitely a step up,” Anderson said, adding that his time at Barrington prepared him well for the challenge.

Anderson wanted to thank all his coaches and teammates who have helped him over the years. He mentioned a number of individuals including BHS assistant coach Adam Toman, who has served as his strength and conditioning coach too. 

‘He’s just a tough kid’

Kent School Football Coach Wayne Clarke said Anderson was impressive from the very beginning of the season. 

“He embodies what I saw from his dad — tough, no-nonsense,” Clarke said, referring to James’s dad, Jim Anderson, who played at Barrington High School and later at Brown University, and still serves as an assistant coach at BHS. “The kid is a leader. On and off the field he’s been tremendous.”

Clarke said Anderson showed up on Day One and exhibited a determination to improve and help his team in every way possible. The coach said other players gravitated to Anderson because of his worth ethic.

“He not only led on the field, but took younger guys under his wing,” Clarke said. “And in the community he’s made connections, genuine connections.”

Anderson also impressed Clarke with his skills on the gridiron. 

“The first thing that jumps off the page with James is his accuracy,” Clarke said. 

The Kent School skipper said he has coached plenty of talented quarterbacks over his 29-year career who could heave long passes downfield or tuck the ball and sprint through a defense. But rarely has he seen a young quarterback with the passing accuracy displayed by Anderson. 

In addition, he was impressed by Anderson’s decision-making on the field. 

“That’s because of his work ethic, his film study. It all translates onto the field,” Clarke said. “There were so many times James would drop back, realize he didn’t have anything and then make the collegiate play and throw it away.”

But it was Anderson’s toughness that shined above all else. Clarke recalled a game from early in the season when Anderson took a hard hit while sprinting down the sideline. The hit jarred the quarterback’s helmet loose and knocked him off his feet. 

“He got hit so hard, right under the chin, that his helmet came off,” Clarke said. 

The coach quickly contemplated the prospects of inserting his back-up QB into the game, but Anderson popped up after the hit and flashed a thumbs-up to his coach. A time-out later, Anderson was back on the field leading the Kent School offense. 

“He’s just a tough kid,” Clarke said. 

“One of my good friends grew up in Rhode Island and I grew up in Philadelphia and we used to go back and forth on which place was tougher… James could be a Philly kid. He’s just tough.”

Clarke said he knew Bryant University was interested in Anderson, and had been so for a while. Anderson had attended Bryant’s summer football camps and took an official visit there during the season. 

“Honestly I think it’s a match made in heaven,” Clarke said, of Anderson’s commitment to Bryant. “That’s a great program on the rise. And they have a great business program.”

Anderson said he was excited about the opportunity to take his game to the next level.

“Right after I went there on the game day visit … I knew it was the place for me,” he said. “I’m happy it all worked out.”

Anderson said he expects plenty more challenges once he arrives at Bryant University, but he is ready to work. 

“My next goal is just to take this year and learn from the upperclassmen, improve myself, stay humble, get better, and hopefully in a couple years earn a starting spot,” he said. 

Future Bulldog

Chris Merritt has known about James Anderson for a while. 

The head football coach at Bryant University had watched Anderson compete while attending the Bulldogs football camps in previous years. Merritt said Anderson has good height and good length, and a strong arm. 

“He performed well at camp,” Merritt said.

The Bryant University coach said Anderson also benefitted from attending prep school this year: “That’s allowed him to physically grow and get stronger,” Merritt added. “Every kid develops differently.”

The Bulldogs coach offered a number of attributes that make Anderson an attractive recruit. He said the former BHS standout has prioritized football in his life, and he is the son of a football coach.

“You always like to recruit the son of a coach. If you’re the son of a coach you know how to be a great teammate, your football IQ is usually a little higher,” Merritt said. 

Bryant University will compete in the Big South/Ohio Valley Conference this fall. The Black and Gold open their season on Thursday, Aug. 31 at UNLV — the game will be played in Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, home of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Merritt said he is excited to see what the future holds for Anderson.

“I wouldn’t have said yes to James if I didn’t think he had the ability to compete,” Merritt said.