With schools lining up for his services, Bryce Anderson has a looming decision to make.
It’s a problem all high school football players would love to have. A four-star safety for West Brook, Anderson basically has his pick of any college program in the country.
In between starring for the Bruins’ 7-on-7 football team, Anderson has been getting an inside glimpse at the top schools on his list while taking official visits this summer. He was in Tuscaloosa, Alabama this weekend as the national champion Crimson Tide hosted him and many other highly-touted players on campus.
It’s easy for fans to get caught up in recruiting as players make choices like these. Many local fans would probably love to see Anderson attend Texas, Texas A&M or even LSU, where Anderson first verbally committed before dropping that pledge in January.
“What I’ve learned most is that the recruiting process mirrors life,” Anderson said at the time. “It’s about values and relationships. I want to be certain that I am making the best decision for myself, my future and my family.”
However, those values aren’t always shared by fans. Social media posts begging players to attend certain schools or degrading rival programs are all too common. It’s a lot to handle— even for me as merely a media bystander. Imagine how quickly the actual players could become overwhelmed.
My point is this: Anderson is the best prospect to come out of Beaumont in a long time. He could very well be the city’s next big football star. So while we all await his college choice, let’s make sure the city supports him no matter where he goes to school.
Anderson made headlines even before he arrived at West Brook. As a middle schooler, he was selected to represent the U.S. National Team at an international youth event at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
I say this to point out that he’s been in a spotlight for a while now, and by all accounts, he handles it quite well.
No one has a bad thing to say about Anderson — not his old West Brook coach Eric Peevey, nor his new Bruins’ boss Chuck Langston. Both coaches brag of his talent and work ethic as a leader.
While he’s being recruited as a defensive back, he also played quarterback at West Brook last year, pacing a Bruins offense that averaged 38 points per game in 2020. He’s just a pure athlete, and it shows.
Earlier this month, Anderson took an official visit to Texas A&M before taking the trip to Alabama this weekend.
However, Texas will get the last chance to impress Anderson. He was supposed to take that visit to Austin on June 25, but the state 7-on-7 tournament has delayed those plans.
For that reason, Anderson also pushed back his commitment date after initially announcing he would verbally pledge to a school on July 4.
Now, we’re left to wait and see what Anderson decides. I’m sure there are coaches all over the county anxiously waiting with us.
When the news does eventually come in, we must remember one thing.
He’s just a kid from Beaumont making one of the biggest decisions of his life. Let’s treat him as such and support whatever choice he makes, even if it doesn’t help your favorite school.
mfaye@beaumontenterprise.com
twitter.com/mattGfaye