PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Everyone has their own path to college, offensive lineman Trey Andersen’s weaved through Utah, California and Tennessee before ending up at Pitt.
Andersen was a commit to BYU in 2019 when instead he went on a year and a half church mission in Fresno, California. During that time, while he was able to work out for an hour a day, football was not top of mind.
His options opened again. He decided to go with his father to a national coach’s convention in Nashville and here is where the journey picks up.
His father, Jason Andersen-a current high school and former college coach, was looking to find a coaching job in the NFL. A former center at BYU and then with the Chiefs and Patriots. He also played in the Arena League. In two of those stops, Utah and Arizona, the quarterback was Joe Germaine.
Germaine’s quarterbacks coach at Ohio State was Tim Salem. The now Pitt tight ends coach met Trey and started recruiting him there and it led to Andersen signing with Pitt in December and enrolling in January.
Andersen believes it was more than a run of blind luck or just his father’s connections.
“If God didn’t help me get to Pitt, it would have never happened,” Andersen said. “I don’t think it was a coincidence that my dad ran into Coach Salem at a coach’s convention in Nashville when we live in Utah. I truly believe God has me here for a purpose.”
Part of Salem’s plan to bring Trey may have to do with his younger brother, Teague. A junior center already 6’4”, 265 pounds and getting recruited, not just by Pitt, but interest from BYU, Cal, Memphis, Michigan, Virginia, Oklahoma State and others.
For now, it’s just Trey Andersen in royal blue and gold and the Pitt coaches will use Spring drills to figure out where his purpose on the field lies. The 6’5”, 247 pound Andersen (he lost some weight recently after testing positive for COVID-19) was a high school tight end. He is also going to get work at tackle to see if that is a better college fit.
Either way, Andersen has the enviable tasks of needing to gain weight.
“Instead of taking one meal home,” Andersen said. “I take two meals home and eat twice as much before and after weightlifting.”
“Always keep my mouth busy, if I’m not talking, I’m eating.”