Exclusive: Ole Miss Safety Deontay Anderson Talks Michigan Football Visit

He is flying to Michigan Friday and will be spending the weekend in Ann Arbor along with two teammates — sophomore quarterback Shea Patterson and redshirt sophomore wide receiver Van Jefferson.

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh flew to Oxford, Miss. on Tuesday and spoke with Anderson, Patterson and Jefferson — all three separately.

Anderson said he and Harbaugh talked for two hours at a local IHOP and talked about football, family and life on campus in Ann Arbor.

“It went great,” Anderson said. “I really wanted to get to know him and talk about his family and how Ann Arbor was. We talked about how he can see me coming in and contributing and making the team even better.”

He added that Harbaugh talked to him about playing both safety and viper, Michigan linebacker/safety hybrid position.

Anderson said that Michigan is his No. 1 school right now and could definitely see himself committing this weekend if things go well.

“When [Harbaugh] came down to Oxford, that really showed me that he wanted me and believed that I could contribute there,” Anderson said.

He said that he has interest in Oklahoma, but that there are no other schools in the mix and does not have a visit scheduled with the Sooners.

Patterson and Jefferson are both extremely interested in the Wolverines, and Anderson didn’t rule out a commitment coming from either one of them this weekend — especially Patterson, who he said has openly talked about doing so this weekend.

“[Patterson] didn’t push it on me, it just happened,” Anderson said. “We aren’t pushing each other to go to the same place, we know we have to do what’s best for us.”

Harbaugh first called him on Friday, Dec. 1. but Anderson initially didn’t answer his call because he didn’t recognize the phone number. He said that Harbaugh is the biggest reason he’s interested in U-M.

“To be honest, Michigan wasn’t in the plans for me as a place to go at first,” Anderson said. “I was asleep one day, and got a call from Ann Arbor, Michigan. I don’t know anyone up there so I didn’t answer it. Then he left a message saying it was Jim Harbaugh, give me a call.”

He called him back and they got to talking, and he was then able to talk to Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown and safeties coach Brian Smith over the phone.

“I just fell in love with him every time we kept talking,” Anderson said of Harbaugh.

Although not officially declared eligible yet for next season, Anderson is highly confident that he will be cleared for next season — as well as both Patterson and Jefferson. The three share a lawyer.

“I’m very optimistic about it,” Anderson said. “We’re still waiting to hear from the NCAA, but they’ve been on our side the last couple weeks about it, so I don’t have any doubt in my mind.”

A sport management major, academics stand out to Anderson as well.

“Michigan is top five in my major and they have a historical campus,” Anderson said. “I mean you can’t go wrong.”

The 6-foot-1, 221-pound Houston native said his uncle on his dad’s side of the family lives in Detroit. Despite the contrast in weather from down south, he said it doesn’t bother him.

“I can’t control the weather,” Anderson said. “I’m not used to the cold like that, but I gotta do what I gotta do.”

He will have three years of eligibility left if he gets cleared to play next season, and thinks Michigan could help him reach the NFL.

“If I go there, I can’t wait to contribute to the team,” Anderson said.

As a freshman, he played in every game recording 32 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and one interception. He was named to the Freshman All-SEC Second Team by Athlon Sports.

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