A successful pro day for punter Ryan Anderson

Friday marked a return trip to New Jersey for former Rutgers punter Ryan Anderson, who is fresh off a first-team All-Big Ten season. Anderson participated in the 2018 Rutgers pro day, which took place at the New York Jets practice facility in Florham Park, N.J.

“I did really well. I punted really well and there were a lot of people taking notice," Anderson said afterward. "I punted after the guys did their bench and their broad jump and pretty much everybody was watching.”

Anderson’s performance appeared to generate interest from a host of NFL scouts and that led to some conversations.

“I talked to the Giants quite a bit. They actually invited me to their local day in April.,” Anderson said. “I also talked to the Lions for a bit. Coach [Jeff] Hammerschmidt from the Jets who was running it said I did well. They were really happy with the way I punted and I was really happy as well.”

Unlike the other Rutgers participants, Anderson’s pro day did not consist of running 40s or doing traditional combine events.

“It’s getting the hang time and hitting the spots they want me to hit. I was doing pretty well with it," Anderson explained. "When I was going left, I wanted to prove I could go left. I was punting out of bounds around 50 yards and doing well there. I was hanging it up there on the open-field punts and on the pooch punts, I was getting them down inside the 10 [yard-line].”

As quickly as Anderson made the trip back to New Jersey, he was on a plane back to his home state of Michigan.

“It was good to get back with the Rutgers guys and get to go out there and perform together. I definitely miss that team atmosphere, but I am trying to work to get to the next level, so I can be around it again,” Anderson said. “Now. it is back to training and working out. If teams want to work me out, I will be ready for that. Other than that, it will be training up until the draft.”

Now that pro day has concluded, Anderson is one step closer to realizing his dream of playing in the NFL.

“It feels pretty good. Pro day came and went so quickly. I have been training for it and now I am just going to ramp up my training even more. Now I have to get ready for going into camp and individual workouts. I just have to keep performing. Nothing really changes. It is just the clout of pro day is gone now.”