CEDAR FALLS --- The well rarely runs dry at Blue Springs High School.

Located near Kansas City, the school has won three Missouri state football championships and 18 conference titles since 1973. Blue Springs produces its share of college talent, including Northern Iowa freshman running back Carlos Anderson.

To Anderson, his alma mater offered a chance to wade into high-level football before becoming a key part of UNI's offense.

"It's kind of like college --- just like at Northern Iowa," said the 5-foot-8 Anderson. "We don't really dive down. We just reload every year.

"It lets you know how it is playing in front of the big crowds and being ready for the media and what-not. This is nothing new to me."

Anderson's not playing high school next to Kansas City anymore, of course. But the big crowds and tough situations haven't seemed to bother him much during his rookie year as a Panther.

With Derrick Law serving a one-game suspension, Anderson started at Iowa, rushing for 75 yards on 24 carries and catching three Pat Grace passes for another 28 yards.

In UNI's loss at South Dakota State, Anderson was UNI's most versatile offensive weapon. He racked up a game-high 196 all-purpose yards, including 79 rushing, 37 receiving and 80 more returning kickoffs.

"It was one of the best games I've had," said Anderson.

Law has moved back into the starting lineup, and he is the Panthers' leading ballcarrier with 555 yards on the ground, Anderson is not far behind at 423. The freshman tops UNI in attempts with 91.

"I'm satisfied," he said. "Splitting time with D-Law (Law) is real good. It keeps me fresh. It keeps him fresh.

"The main thing is, this is a lot faster than high school. You don't break as many big runs as you did in high school. But, like I said, I was pretty well prepared. It's not that big a difference."

Anderson, though, has had to learn some lessons on the run, like most young college football players. He must block blitzing linebackers, safeties and cornerbacks, for instance.

Following his redshirt season in 2008, Anderson had to shake off a little rust. Watching film of his debut at Iowa, he realized he'd missed a few holes.

"I thought it was a matter of inexperience," said Anderson.

He's also studied Law and picked up a few rules of the college rushing road.

"What I learned from Derrick is you can't always be willing and wanting to juke," said Anderson. "You sometimes have to be a straight downhill runner. That's what (Law) is. He jukes, as well. But he hits the hole really hard and sometimes that helps us out a lot."

As UNI faces a critical Missouri Valley Football Conference game against Youngstown State, head coach Mark Farley knows he'll need help from both Law and Anderson in pursuit of an at-large bid to the playoffs.

So far, Anderson gets a passing grade.

"Carlos is a quick back," said the UNI head coach. "He's very competitive. He gets in a football game and the more he's in it, the more competitive he gets. He still needed to clean up things he was doing in other phases of the game."

The challenge, Farley said, is keeping everyone in the mix.

"Derrick Law needs to stay involved in every game and Carlos needs to be involved in every game," he added. "The more we can balance that, the better team we'll be."

Carlos Anderson

Position: Running back

Height: 5-8

Weight: 172

Class: Freshman (redshirt)

Hometown: Blue Springs, Mo.

Career highlights: In his first season on the field, he's UNI's second-leading rusher and stands No. 2 in all-purpose yards. Had a career-high 79 yards on the ground at South Dakota State. In high school, he was Missouri's Class 6A co-offensive player of the year. Finished his prep career at Blue Springs with over 3,700 yards rushing and 39 touchdowns.

Quote: "Splitting time with D-Law is real good. It keeps me fresh. It keeps him fresh." - Carlos Anderson, on sharing the rushing load with teammate Derrick Law.