OL Spencer Anderson talks return for '22 season, protecting Taulia, coach Brian Braswell
- Anthony Fama
- Apr 17, 2022
- 2 min read
Maryland’s offensive line took a noticeable step forward during the 2021 season under Brian Braswell and a big reason why is Spencer Anderson. The 2021 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection started in every game for the Terrapins last season and finished as the highest graded pass blocking offensive lineman in the Big Ten according Pro Football Focus. So, when Anderson became the third offensive linemen to announce his return to Maryland last offseason, the Terps
Born and raised in Bowie, Maryland, the hometown veteran made the decision to return for another season knowing what another strong season of film can do for his future.
“Just hearing back from different NFL personnel and coach [Mike] Locksley, just us having a discussion. Kind of made me come back and try and get my stock up. It’s good but always strive to be day one, day two kind of guy,” Anderson added. For now, he returns to an offensive line that he’s plenty familiar with. “It’s always good when you can have veterans come back instead of having to develop younger guys.”
Head coach Mike Locksley said the offensive line goes “about seven deep with guys that have played a lot of football last year,” but Anderson’s presence gives someone that can play across the line. Now with eight returning starters in Maryland’s offense coupled with the addition of former Florida receiver Jacob Copeland, expectations are only growing with quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa at the helm.
“Having a veteran [offensive] line back, she really helped us but for [Taulia], it's about taking that next step the veteran receivers that have been with them for a few years now,” Locksley said after Saturday’s scrimmage. “You would imagine that we should be able to continue to improve our offensive efficiency.”
Anderson was the best Terps offensive lineman last season, and he was at the forefront of Tagovailoa’s record-setting season. “Taulia is great, he’s a locker room guy, always joking, always energetic, he never puts his head down,” Anderson said. “It’s always good to have a quarterback that you have a good relationship with, and I feel like he has the keys to the castle, and we believe in him.”
Anderson sees the opportunity to improve this spring within a pass-heavy offense and Taulia Tagovailoa at the helm, an area coach Braswell harps on as he preaches technique during practice. “Last year was our first year under him, he taught us pro-level things and we were just getting stuff too fast,” Anderson said. “Now we can harp on techniques, and I feel like our second year with these techniques we will be okay.”
As Maryland wrapped up its first scrimmage of spring practice this next week, Braswell and company will look to refine the mistakes to set the foundation for the 2022 trench Terps.
“I feel like now we can really harp on the techniques, and I feel like our second-year with his techniques, we’ll be OK.”
