Lyonel Anderson’s favorite sports as a child were baseball, basketball and football … in that order.
“Baseball was my first sport. My parents put me in baseball when I was little (because) their brothers played and flirted with going to the majors,” explained Anderson, Kansas University’s multi-faceted 6-foot-3, 235-pound junior football tight end from Rochester, N.Y.
“Then I started playing basketball. We all know how big basketball is in New York. I didn’t start playing football until ninth grade and didn’t get serious about it until 12th grade. I started football last, but for me it’s the best.”
An outfielder in baseball his senior year at Rochester’s Wilson Magnet High School, Anderson was named to an all-star team. A small forward in basketball, he led his high school team to a berth in the state finals.
As a receiver in football, he led Wilson into the state playoffs. He earned a free ride to Alfred State College, where he excelled for two years, earning scholarship offers from KU, Missouri and Pittsburgh after grabbing 26 catches for 534 yards and three touchdowns his sophomore season.
“My future is basically on me. I think I can have a future in football as long as I keep working hard and striving to do my best,” said Anderson.
It also would help if he could stay healthy.
Anderson, who caught two passes for 60 yards in KU’s first three games, suffered an undisclosed injury against Jacksonville State. He playing sparingly against Missouri and did not play against Colorado before returning last week against Baylor. Against the Bears, he had one catch for 12 yards.
“He is starting to show signs of being an outstanding player,” said KU coach Mark Mangino said of Anderson who trades off with Denver Latimore at the position. “I think this week coming up he’ll be 100 percent healthy for the first time.”
KU’s receivers in order of receptions:
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Anderson won’t disclose what types of injuries he’s suffered this season, but agreed he’s feeling healthy finally.
“Early in the year I had a couple of minor things here and there,” Anderson said. “I feel back up to speed. I’m looking forward to the remaining games.”
That includes Saturday’s contest at Kansas State. The Jayhawks have dropped 10 straight games to KSU, including last year’s 64-0 rout at Memorial Stadium.
“I just found that out. Ten years is a long time,” Anderson said. “We don’t get caught up in that. This is a new year. I am expecting an intense environment. They play hard and have physical players.”
Being from New York, he hasn’t gotten caught up in the rivalry.
“I don’t know all the tradition yet,” he said, “but it is a big game. If we came out with a win, we’d be 6-2 and remain on top of the North (Division). We look at it as a great opportunity.”
A win over KSU would give him something to talk about when he returns home to New York next summer. While home, he admits he and his buddies will do more than throw the football around the streets.
“I like to play around at the (batting) cages with my friends, see if we can hit fastpitch,” Anderson said. “And I’ll still play pick-up (basketball). I’ve never gotten into that whole running thing unless there’s a ball involved.”
