You hear it from time-to-time: Sports becomes an escape for those that need to overcome life’s struggles. But rarely do sports help set the tone for the rest of someone’s life.

For redshirt sophomore running back Justin Anderson, football became his passion at only seven years old.

After his father died when he was a young child, an angry and aggressive Anderson didn’t know how to deal with it.

“I started getting in a lot of fights,” the Chicago native said. “Then some of my teachers in grammar school started telling me I wouldn’t amount to anything. And I was only seven or eight years old.”

That’s when he picked up the hobby of football out of the habit of proving people wrong. And that is also when he met the person that would be his mentor well into his days as running back here at NIU – his little league football coach Gerald Harris.

“I’m like his son,” Anderson said. “He calls me son and I call him pops.”

Anderson started playing for the Windy City Dolphins football team and everything else just seemed to fall into place. School got better, there were no more fights and a talent was beginning to be realized.

“He was temperamental but came under control through football,” said Harris, who compares Anderson’s running style to O.J. Simpson’s. “He matured and got tougher through our program.”

After choosing NIU over Illinois and converting from an all-state high school quarterback to a running back, his toughness was put to the test.

Being a former quarterback, there were questions surrounding Anderson heading into college on whether or not he could take a hit on a consistent basis. As expected, Anderson talked with Harris about it.

Now Anderson has moved past the stage of thinking about taking hits – concentrating more on putting on hits of his own.

“Pass blocking is important,” Anderson said. “It’s all about confidence. Once you make that one good block and put someone on their butt, you get confidence. I feel that I can handle anyone who lines up against me now.”

With Anderson playing in a role of running back by committee this year, performing at a high level during the time he has is a must. As for Anderson’s mentor, he seemed almost giddy at the prospect of a coming out year for his “son.”

“I think you guys will see a phenomenal Justin,” Harris said. “I believe he has the ability to be – not Garrett Wolfe – but the next best thing.”

No matter what happens for Anderson this year, football will once again be the answer for him. This time for his dream to play a football game at Soldier Field.