The Los Angeles Rams have signed former UCF standout and undrafted running back and return man Otis Anderson Jr.
The Rams were able to get a firsthand look at their roster during organized team activities and mandatory minicamp. Although head coach Sean McVay felt that there were not very many pressing needs on the roster, the team is always in the market for a playmaker they can utilize.
The backfield is already in good hands with the emergence of Cam Akers alongside Darrell Henderson. However, with an open spot available on the roster, they decided to give the rookie a shot.
Anderson took to Twitter to make the announcement himself:
Prayers have been answered 💙💛Thank you God if you’re a supporter/family thank you for your concern. To the @RamsNFL thank you 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/FwXwcVnHiD
— Otis Anderson Jr 🎱 (@Gumby_football) June 23, 2021
Anderson showed off plenty of versatility during his days at UCF. He registered 2,182 yards and 17 touchdowns on 358 carries during his career. His 6.1 yards per carry average ranked second in program history only to Greg McCrae (6.45).
Anderson was also a force in the passing game as a receiver out of the backfield after hauling in 91 catches for 1,025 yards and nine touchdowns. While he does not boast a lot of experience in the return game, he did return a kickoff for a touchdown.
Despite a shortened season due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Anderson rushed for 687 yards and scored four touchdowns in nine games en route to second-team all-conference honors. Regardless, it appears he managed to show enough promise for the Rams to give him a chance to put his skill set on display.
As previously mentioned, the backfield is set with Akers serving as the workhorse and Henderson coming in relief. This means Anderson may need to do what he can to make an impact on special teams if he hopes to secure a spot on the 53-man roster.
McVay noted that the return position is up for grabs despite wide receiver Tutu Atwell’s claims of landing the job.
