The first thing one notices about Hogan Anderson is how much he looks like a football player.
Anderson has the size and build that coaches relish for their players to have. Throw in the Winder-Barrow High School senior’s work ethic and dedication to the game and you have the ingredients for a standout performer.
“He understands football,” Bulldogg head coach David Wagner said. “Most of the time you don’t find players who understand the game the way he does until the next level.”
Wagner compares Anderson to former Apalachee High School standout Jeff Haney, who helped lead the Wildcats to an undefeated regular season and region championship in 2009.
“Hogan has picked up the ‘Mike’ linebacker position faster than any kid I’ve ever coached,” Wagner said. “He is just impressive to watch compete. He goes 100 percent all the time. He never slows down. You want your entire team to be full of players like him.”
In last week’s contest against Flowery Branch, Anderson took on the responsibilities of a new position: quarterback. During the second half, Wagner and offensive coordinator Kenneth Sanders put Anderson in at quarterback in the shotgun. He carried the football each time he took the snap.
“It’s one of our packages,” Wagner said. “We simply try to work on things which will make us better. Hogan just did outstanding. There is not a position on the field we couldn’t put him and feel comfortable about it.”
Not surprisingly, Anderson enjoys the times when the WBHS coaches call for him to run the “Wild Dogg” formation.
“It always puts a little life into me knowing that the offense is then ultimately in my hands,” Anderson said. “At QB, it allows me to make plays running the ball which is essentially our philosophy on offense and I take pride and have fun doing it.”
WBHS offensive coordinator Kenneth Sanders said using Anderson is common sense since he is one of the team’s playmakers.
“Hogan is the type of player that comes to mind when — as a coach — you say ‘that young man is a football player,’” Sanders said. “He can play nearly any position on the field and he plays with reckless abandon, leaving all he has out there. He did work some at the quarterback position in our Wild Dogg package last week. We are working on getting him the ball in as many ways as possible on offense, because we feel he is one of our top play makers.”
The Bulldogg senior leader said he enjoys playing defense as well for Wagner.
“I feel I’m adjusting well at ‘Mike’ backer, especially with Coach Wagner, who is a defensive mastermind,” Anderson said.
“It’s definitely a lot different from what I’m used to in containing the outside at the outside linebacker spot. However, making the right reads and getting in on more plays are definitely a plus for me this year.”
Overall for the defense, Anderson sees plenty of potential before the 2010 season is complete.
“I believe we’re capable of holding every team from now on to under 14 points a game,” he said. “It doesn’t matter whether they are a run-based team like Rockdale or a pass-heavy offense, like we saw for the first time against Flowery Branch.”
On the offensive side of ball, Anderson likes the way his team attempts to control the clock and shorten the game.
“As a whole, I believe the team can persevere and make it to the playoffs for the first time in seven years,” Anderson said.
