Super Bowl Update

Jimmie Anderson, shown before the WKU game, is currently in Edmonton (Lamar Higgins photo)

Former Troy cornerback Jimmie Anderson didn't get too discouraged when no NFL team chose him in the recent NFL Draft. He had a pretty good option waiting up north.

Anderson, who started for most of the 2010 and 2011 seasons, is now in Edmonton, going through camp with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. Anderson had two interceptions and 37 tackles last year, missing two games after his appendix came out, and three interceptions in 2010.

"They (Eskimos personnel) came to the Arkansas State game and told me they were interested," Anderson said. "They also came to our Pro Day (at Troy). They had me come up there and I met some people and they told me they wanted me to come play for them. The NFL Draft came and went but I couldn't pass up an opportunity like this, so I decided to come here."

Anderson got to Edmonton on Tuesday and began practice on Wednesday. Edmonton is in Alberta, just below the center of the Canadian province.

"It's cold," Anderson said. "It's a lot different from Alabama and Texas. When we woke up, it was 40 degrees and during the day, it's 60-something. The sun doesn't go down until 11:30. When I woke up at 5 a.m., the sun was already back up."

Anderson didn't know anyone when he got to Edmonton, but there are some familiar names on the roster for national college football fans, including former Oregon/Ole Miss quarterback Jeremiah Masoli.

Anderson is trying to earn a spot on the regular season roster during camp. The Eskimos have two preseason games - June 15 at Calgary and June 21 at home vs. British Columbia. The season opener is June 30 at home against Toronto.

Along with the different geographic climate, the CFL also has different rules than the NFL, which is where Anderson aspires to be one day. The field is 110 yards long and there are 12 players on each side of the ball instead of 11. Three receivers can be in motion at once, and inside receivers can get a 10-yard head start behind the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped. Anderson has been working as an inside cornerback.


"The competition isn't really much different, but I'm always working hard," Anderson said. "I'm trying to play as long as I can play and hopefully I can get back to the states (to play)."