Anderson eager for next chance

EAST LANSING - He was pegged as the next premier Michigan State defensive end without ever having played a game for the green and white.

He came from the Big East conference, where he was on his way to becoming an all-league performer.

But Trevor Anderson's much-anticipated MSU debut didn't go quite the way he had planned.

"It was kind of disappointing from a personal standpoint and from a team standpoint because ultimately you want to win," Anderson said. "And myself, I didn't think I did too well.

"I had been out there so long practicing and now that the lights were on I kind of messed up and did a couple things wrong. But I plan on getting better at it and beating Eastern Michigan."

The junior finished with two tackles in MSU's 38-31 loss to the Golden Bears.

Anderson sat out the 2007 season after transferring from Cincinnati to MSU. He was able to practice with the team last year, but this was his first game action as a Spartan.

Coach Mark Dantonio, who coached Anderson at Cincinnati, knows the type of impact player the former Detroit Crockett standout can be. But Dantonio said Anderson - and the defensive line as a whole - got off to just a so-so start.

"Trevor was average, I think," Dantonio said. "(But) as a defensive front we were average. It might have had something to do with who we went against, as well, but he was a little bit banged up there."

Anderson had been battling an undisclosed injury throughout the latter part of fall camp, but he said Tuesday that he is close to 100 percent going into Saturday's home opener at noon against Eastern Michigan.

Fellow defensive end Brandon Long, who also had been battling a minor injury (twisted knee) late in fall camp, feels a healthy Anderson on the other side of the defensive line can lead to great things for MSU.

"Trevor Anderson is a phenomenal player and he is feeling real good," Long said Tuesday. "Having one guy complement the other guy, we work well together."

Now Anderson's attention turns to Saturday, when he gets the chance to put the Cal game behind him and show MSU fans - including family and friends - just what he can do.

"I was kind of off on a few things on Saturday and it showed, but the great thing about football is that you can come out and do it again next week," Anderson said. "I'm glad I get to do that here at home in front of friends and family. That's a big deal for me."