“It’s been a learning experience,” said McAnderson, who has been participating in seven-on-seven drills with his new teammates three times a week. “Just passing in general will be an adjustment for me. It’s something I definitely need to work on.”

In Lawrence High’s run-oriented offense, McAnderson carried the ball 236 times for 1,789 yards and 25 touchdowns as a senior. He owns the LHS career record with 488 attempts in his three-year career and ranks second in both career yards (3,052) and TDs (41).

The all-state selection’s receiving stats aren’t quite as impressive. McAnderson caught seven passes for 68 yards and a score as a senior and had 14 career receptions for 123 yards and two touchdowns.

Running backs have to be more versatile in KU’s offense. Tailback Clark Green was the Jayhawks’ second-leading receiver with 37 catches for 408 yards last season.

Journal-World File Photo

McAnderson played tailback, fullback and linebacker at LHS and was the 63rd-ranked linebacker in the nation, according to rivals.com. McAnderson hopes to play tailback at KU, though Green returns for his sophomore season and red-shirt freshman Jerome Kemp and true freshman John Randle also could be in the mix.

The majority of KU’s freshmen took red-shirts last season, but that idea doesn’t appeal to McAnderson.

“I want to come in and play,” he said. “I can’t see myself sitting out and missing a whole season of football. If that’s what it takes, I’ll do it, but my expectation is to come in and contribute.”

McAnderson hasn’t moved on campus yet, but he has participated in summer workouts with the team. The Jayhawks lift weights and run sprints four days a week. McAnderson (6-foot, 225 pounds) said he’s happy with his weight but hopes to drop body fat and add muscle before the summer program ends July 25.

“I have a lot of confidence in him because he had a good work ethic at Lawrence High,” LHS coach Dirk Wedd said. “Hopefully he’ll play as a freshman, but it’s not a situation where he’s a failure if he doesn’t play as a freshman. A lot of Kansas kids need that red-shirt year. We play so few football games in Kansas, and we don’t have summer camps like Missouri, Texas and other places have.”

McAnderson dreamed of playing for Kansas while growing up in Lawrence. He made an early oral commitment to KU last fall and didn’t waver despite the Jayhawks’ 2-10 record or overtures from Kansas State, Missouri, Iowa and Wyoming.

He’ll get his chance to show coach Mark Mangino what he can do when preseason practices start Aug. 5.

¢ KU’s 2003 newcomers

“It comes down to how he does in two-a-days,” Wedd said. “He has to step up quick and prove that he can block in all the different situations that they have and that he can run the ball and catch the ball out of the backfield because that’s what their offense demands.”