Joseph Anderson, a one-time state champion and multiple-time all-state track and field athlete, has committed to compete in track and field and play football at the University of Iowa.
The junior from Westminster Christian Academy announced the news on July 3.
"1 Corinthians 10:31! I'm grateful to God to announce my commitment to play football and run track at the University of Iowa!," he tweeted.
Anderson had a plethora of offers to continue his football playing days, but Iowa gave him a chance to do both. He was an all-state selection last year on the defensive line.
This past season, he was second in the triple jump finals in Class 5 and was fifth in the long jump - coming in the MSHSAA Class 5 meet. Last year, he was the state champion in the triple jump in Class 3 and took fourth in the long jump for the Wildcats. That helped the school located in the St. Louis suburb of Town and Country win the MSHSAA Class 3 championship.
He's also qualified for the state meet in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles - meaning he could help the Hawkeyes in a variety of events.
He broke the school record in the hurdles, long jump and triple jump this year, resetting new marks in the postseason
Anderson recently took official visits to Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas - the visit to Iowa City was June 23-25.
He tweeted out he has offers from Kansas, Kansas State, Nebraska, Missouri, Kent State, Wyoming, Iowa State, Colgate, Toledo, Army, North Dakota State, Northern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Southeast Missouri, Illinois State, Ball State, Northern Iowa, Miami of Ohio, Lindenwood and Tennessee State - his dad's alma mater.
His father, Bennie, was a standout at Cleveland Junior Naval Academy in St. Louis. He signed with the then-St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2000 and his career took him to the XFL before signing with Baltimore and playing for them from 2001-04. He joined the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins before his career wrapped up in 2006.
Joseph's oldest brother, Bennie Anderson Jr., is an offensive lineman at Yale while big brother Joshua is an offensive lineman at Eastern Michigan.