- December 26, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
Dr. Phillips High football's starting quarterback Stanley Anderson-Lofton has announced his commitment to Middle Tennessee via a post on his X.com account.
Anderson-Lofton — a 6-foot-2, 205-pound rising senior, who gained a total of 2,400 yards and scored 26 total touchdowns in his second season starting — also held offers from Florida A&M, Lenoir-Rhyne, Delaware State and Lehigh.
Ultimately, the decision to take his talents to Murfreesboro, Tennessee came down to the relationship he built with the Blue Raiders staff.
"It was really my connection with the offensive coordinator and my conversations with the head coach," Anderson-Lofton said. "He just said a lot of the right things and made me feel like I was really important to what they were building while keeping it real with me. That's something that's really appreciated by me, especially considering the state of college football nowadays. It's hard for people to be honest with you and tell you what you need to hear, instead of what you want to hear."
Beyond the connection with the staff, the fit with Middle Tennessee's offensive scheme was another consideration that made the decision easier for Anderson-Lofton.
"When I got on board with the offensive coordinator, I saw that they do a lot of the same stuff we do here at DP," he said. "They like to get in the huddle, run a lot of 11 personnel, 12 personnel, really utilize the tight ends. They like to get the ball vertical, but they also are going to run the quarterback a bit — making sure they limit how many times he runs the ball to avoid unnecessary hits, which is something we've always talked about here at DP too. I think the transition into their playbook is not going to be as hard for me because I've already seen similar concepts and adjusted to them in high school."
Though Anderson-Lofton understands starting as a freshman isn't a given, the coaching staff at Middle Tennessee told him that there's always a chance.
"The best man will always play, that's what the coaches told me, so whether it's me as a true freshman or if it's me having to wait ... the best man is going to be on the field," he said. "My job when I get there is to display the fact that I'm the best man for the job and I'm the right decision."
