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Mario Anderson

Mario Anderson
No. 24 – Saskatchewan Roughriders
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (2001-04-24) April 24, 2001 (age 24)
Summerville, South Carolina, U.S.
Height:5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight:205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school:Stratford (Goose Creek, South Carolina)
College:Newberry (2019–2022)
South Carolina (2023)
Memphis (2024–present)
NFL draft:2024: undrafted
Career history
Roster status:Active
CFL status:American
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-AAC (2024)
  • First-team All-SAC (2021, 2022)
Stats at CFL.ca

Mario Anderson Jr. (born April 24, 2001)[1] is an American professional football running back for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Newberry Wolves, South Carolina Gamecocks, and Memphis Tigers.

Early life and high school

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Anderson attended Stratford High School in Goose Creek, South Carolina.[2] An unranked recruit, he committed to play college football for Newberry College, joining the Division II team as a walk-on.[3]

College career

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Newberry

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In four years at Newberry from 2019 to 2022, Anderson rushed 513 times for 3,296 yards and 35 touchdowns and hauled in 21 receptions for 135 yards.[4] He was named first-team all-conference twice in 2021 and 2022,[citation needed] while also being named an All-American and a Harlon Hill Trophy finalist in 2022.[5]

South Carolina

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Anderson transferred to play for the South Carolina Gamecocks.[6] In week 2 of the 2023 season, he rushed six times for 32 yards in a win over Furman.[7] In week 4, Anderson ran for 88 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries in a win over Mississippi State.[8] In week 5, he broke off a 75-yard rushing touchdown against Tennessee.[9] Anderson finished the 2023 season rushing for 707 yards and four touchdowns on 143 carries, while also hauling in 22 receptions[citation needed] for 153 yards and a touchdown.[10] Following the season, he entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal.[10]

Memphis

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Anderson transferred to play for the Memphis Tigers.[11] In week 7 of the 2024 season, he was ejected in the second quarter in a win over South Florida after spitting on Bulls defensive tackle Doug Blue-Eli.[12] In week 8, Anderson rushed for 183 yards and four touchdowns on 22 carries in a win over North Texas.[13] In week 12, he rushed for 138 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries to help beat UAB.[14]

Statistics

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Season Games Rushing Receiving
GP GS Att Yards Avg TD Rec Yards Avg TD
Newberry Wolves
2019 Redshirt Redshirt
2020 6 - 69 504 7.3 4 3 19 6.3 0
2021 13 - 233 1,237 5.3 12 12 91 7.6 0
2022 10 - 211 1,560 7.4 19 6 25 4.2 0
South Carolina Gamecocks
2023 12 8 143 707 4.9 3 22 153 7.0 1
Memphis Tigers
2024 13 12 236 1,362 5.8 18 52 312 6.0 3
D-II Career 29 - 513 3,296 6.4 35 21 135 6.4 0
FBS Career 25 20 379 2,069 5.5 21 74 465 6.3 4

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span
5 ft 8+1⁄4 in
(1.73 m) 		206 lb
(93 kg) 		28+7⁄8 in
(0.73 m) 		9 in
(0.23 m)
All values from Pro Day[15]

On April 29, 2025, it was announced that Anderson had signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.[16] Following training camp, he accepted a practice roster position on June 1, 2025, but was released on June 23, 2025.[17] However, following long-term injuries to backup running backs Thomas Bertrand-Hudon and Ka'Deem Carey, Anderson was re-signed on July 22, 2025.[18]

References

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  1. ^ @mario_anderson2 (April 24, 2019). "Got on my knees and thank the good lord for full life today 🙏🏾 blessed to be able to see 18 years of age 🖤#HappyCakeDayToMe" (Tweet). Retrieved December 4, 2024 – via Twitter. [self-published source?]
  2. ^ Gantt, Rob (October 26, 2018). "High School Roundup: Mario Anderson leads Stratford; Berkeley clinches region title". Post and Courier. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  3. ^ Adams, Emily (November 16, 2023). "How Mario Anderson went from Division II walk-on to South Carolina's starting running back". Greenville Online. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  4. ^ "Mario Anderson Stats". The Football Database. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  5. ^ Gantt, Rob (November 18, 2021). "Former Stratford star Mario Anderson earns all-conference honors at Newberry". Post and Courier. Retrieved November 29, 2024. [failed verification]
  6. ^ Kornblut, Phil (December 19, 2022). "Stratford HS grad Mario Anderson Jr. talks transfer from Newberry to South Carolina". Post and Courier. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  7. ^ Sapakoff, Gene (September 13, 2023). "Gamecocks' help recipe is Mario Anderson, better blocking". Post and Courier. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  8. ^ Gantt, Rob (October 4, 2023). "Former Knights standout providing spark for Gamecocks' ground game". Post and Courier. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  9. ^ Cloninger, David (October 20, 2023). "Gamecocks' 'Super Mario' Anderson, Missouri's Schrader bring D2 to SEC". Post and Courier. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Adams, Emily (December 6, 2023). "Top South Carolina football running back Mario Anderson entering transfer portal". Greenville Online. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  11. ^ Kaye, Jordan. "Former South Carolina RB Mario Anderson picks his new college home". The State. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  12. ^ Dylan, Jonah (October 12, 2024). "Memphis running back Mario Anderson ejected after appearing to spit at USF player". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  13. ^ Dylan, Jonah (October 20, 2024). "How Mario Anderson bounced back from ejection to add name to Memphis football running back lore". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  14. ^ Dylan, Jonah (November 17, 2024). "How Mario Anderson's 1,000-yard season for Memphis football sets up Tigers for future". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  15. ^ "Mario Anderson Jr. College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
  16. ^ "Roughriders Sign Running Back Mario Anderson". Saskatchewan Roughriders. April 29, 2025.
  17. ^ "Mario Anderson". Saskatchewan Roughriders. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  18. ^ "Riders Re-sign RB Mario Anderson". Saskatchewan Roughriders. July 22, 2025.
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