The prodigal son returned to the Huskies in 2006 after leaving the school prior to the 2005 season. Known as one of the premier special teams coverage defenders in the nation, Anderson's physical blocking was sorely missed during his absence from the program. His return was capped when he was named the team's Most Valuable Player during his senior year.

Anderson was a standout three-sport performer at Hope High School in Rhode Island. He earned All-New England and all-conference honors in football and was named the team's MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. He was an All-American wrestler, earning state and New England titles as a junior. Anderson also finished fourth in the shot put in the New England Finals. He spent the 2001 campaign at Avon Old Farms Prep.

Anderson enrolled at Connecticut in 2002. He started five of 12 contests at fullback, gaining 119 yards on 34 carries (3.5-yard average) with one touchdown. He made five catches for 12 yards and led the special teams with nine tackles (seven solo).

Anderson lined up as the starting fullback in six of 12 games in 2003. He was bothered at midseason with a hand sprain that forced him to wear a splint, but he still rushed 35 times for 124 yards (3.5 avg.) and caught 15 passes for 148 yards (9.9 avg.) and a score. He also led the special teams with 11 tackles (five solo).

The team utilized a multiple-receiver formation in 2004 and Anderson started only three games, but saw considerable action as a blocker. He gained 99 yards on 22 attempts (4.5 avg.) and caught 14 passes for 133 yards (9.5 avg.). He was also in on 11 tackles (four solo) and gained 12 yards on one kickoff return.

Off-the-field issues and academic struggles forced Anderson to leave Connecticut in 2005, when he did not play football. He was re-admitted to Connecticut in the spring of 2006, but only on the condition that he paid his own way. He started nine of 11 contests, missing the season finale vs. Louisville due to a pinched nerve in his neck. Anderson rushed only 23 times for 78 yards (3.4 avg.) and hauled in 14 passes for 101 yards (7.2 avg.) and a pair of touchdowns. He also recorded nine tackles (five solo).

In 47 games at Connecticut, Anderson started 23 times. He carried 114 times for 420 yards (3.7 avg.) and one touchdown. He had 48 receptions for 394 yards (8.2 avg.) and three scores, adding 12 yards on one kickoff return. He also recorded 40 tackles (21 solos).

Positives: Has very good muscle mass throughout his frame with a thick chest, broad shoulders, good bubble, thick thighs and calves … Has natural hands to secure the ball outside his frame and good balance as a runner and blocker, keeping his pads low and feet churning to push the pile … Is a quick study with good intelligence and field vision, as he takes plays from the chalkboard to the field with no problem and shows good instincts to pick up the stunts and blitzes … Tough, physical blocker who will not hesitate to sacrifice his body to make a play … Determined special teams gunner who shows urgency getting down the field to make the tackle … Takes on a different persona when he steps on the field and plays until the whistle … Shows adequate initial quickness out of his stance … Has a quick short-area burst and does a good job keeping his balance while clearing out the rush lane … Hits the hole at a low pad level and with good strength, using his leg drive to break tackles and his strong upper frame to power through trash … Has good vision picking the creases between the tackles, but needs to pick and slide with better urgency … Best served using his power to break tackles rather than attempt to elude … His power is evident in his ability to punish defenders and push the pile … Consistently keeps his feet moving and does a good job of keeping his pad level down … Shows good movement on contact and works hard to finish his runs … Natural hands catcher, but has been limited to screens and dumpoffs … Does a good job of adjusting to the ball in flight, but lacks the leaping ability to compete for it at its high point … Punishing drive blocker whose overall strength and hand punch lets him sustain the rush lanes … Excellent wedge-buster who plays with good urgency … Plays on all the coverage and return units and has the wrap-up tackling technique to not only stop the returner, but also the upper body strength to create turnovers … Times his hits properly and could eventually make a decent linebacker candidate because of his tackling form.

Negatives: Dropped close to 15 pounds of excess weight during the 2006 offseason, but needs to be more conscious of his eating habits, as the additional bulk has caused stamina and speed problems in the past … Has decent straight-line quickness, but appears too stiff in his hips to generate good change-of-direction agility … Tends to lose body control blocking in space though, as he will lunge and dive at defenders rather than take good angles … Has had several off-the-field issues that could have been the result of a medical condition that he was diagnosed as having back in March 2006 and needs to be monitored … Will get too narrow in his stride when blocking in space … Has good short-area speed, but lacks the second gear to clear past the second level … Tends to lose balance when having to run distances and is best served as a lead blocker or short-yardage runner … Has some burst through the holes, but is inconsistent building to top speed and struggles to open his hips in attempts to redirect and bounce outside … Stays low in his pads and has a strong base to sustain the holes, but will lose balance in space, as he gets too narrow in his base and fails to take good angles in pursuit … Is a liability carrying the ball on the perimeter, as he is a one-cut runner with minimal hip shake and tends to get too erect in his stance when having to run long distances … Fluid in his stride, but doesn't do a good job of selling defenders in his route break point … Needs to demonstrate better route concepts and stop rounding his cuts … Doesn't have good balance in his kick-slide and likes to try and chip rather than punish … Keeps his pads low to generate movement through the holes, but needs to be more explosive extending his arms to lock on and sustain in pass protection.

Compares To: Jameel Cook, Houston Texans … Anderson is a physical drive blocker, but limited in pass protection and has minimal value as a running back … He is a decent short-area receiver, but his special teams play is reminiscent to the Saints' Fred McAfee, as he excels flying down field to break up the wedge … He could make a nice living on special teams, but on offense, his contributions will be limited to short-area blocking in the ground game.

2006: Sat out the season finale vs. Louisville with a pinched nerve in his neck.

Campus: 4.72 in the 40-yard dash … 403-pound bench press … 600-pound squat … 317-pound power clean … 28½-inch vertical jump … 30¾-inch arm length … 9 3/8-inch hands … Left-handed.

Attended Avon (Conn.) Old Farms Prep School in 2001, playing football for head coach Kevin Driscoll … Spent his earlier prep days at Hope (Providence, R.I.) High School, where he was a standout in three sports in football, track and wrestling … Earned All-New England and all-conference honors in football and was named the team's MVP and Defensive Player of the Year … Was an All-American wrestler, earning state and New England titles as a junior … Also finished fourth in the shot put in the New England track finals.

Psychology major … Born Deon Terry Anderson on Jan. 27, 1983 … Resides in Providence, R.I.