A cut above: Mario Anderson has a passion for football and haircuts

Mario Anderson has great cuts, both on and off the football field.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders running back has developed a passion and talent for cutting hair that started as he was heading into his freshman season at Newberry College. He explained that he decided to take it up in order to make some money.

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“I was a walk-on. I didn’t have any scholarship money. My mom took out loans for me to be able to fulfill my dreams and get an education,” the Summerville, S.C., product said.

“I wanted to take some of the stress off of her and let her know I could be an adult in some way, shape, or form early in my college.”

He was taught the craft by his uncle, who had worked in a barbershop.

“He taught me the basics and everything before my freshman year of college. At that time I was doing it for free, just to practice on a couple of heads. As each semester went on I charged $5, and then $10, and then going into my junior year of college at Newberry, everyone in the town of Newberry was coming to me,” Anderson said.

He estimates he had 50-60 clients a week at his peak.

“I was making about $600 a week on the weekend. That’s good for a small, D-II school,” Anderson said.

Once his football career comes to an end, he said he hopes to use his hair-cutting skills as his next career. He plans to get his barber’s license once he is back home.

“It’s the communication that you have with people. You get to be a therapist,” Anderson explained.

“Back in the day, a barber was a therapist, was a teacher; they were everything. Even my barber back at home now, I go to him for advice to this day. Sit in the chair, get a nice clean fade and chop it up and be men in the building.”

This past spring, he also held a football camp for the kids in his home town.

“Any time you can pour it back into the community and show that it is always bigger than yourself, that’s a blessing. Those kids that came out there – there was about 40 kids that came out. We had the grill going, we had a DJ going. It was good times and good vibes,” Anderson said.

“I’m going to do that every single year, as much as I can. As much as I can give back to the community that supported me to make sure I got to where I am at now, it’s only right that I do the same thing and give it back to those kids.”

But for right now, Anderson’s focus is on earning a spot on the 2025 Riders team.

Anderson was a star at Memphis with the Tigers in his senior season, rushing for 1,362 yards and 18 touchdowns. That included an 183-yard, four-touchdown performance in a 52-44 win over North Texas.

Prior to transferring to Memphis, Anderson played for South Carolina. There, he rushed for 707 yards and three touchdowns. Anderson began his collegiate career at Newberry College, where he played three seasons (2020-2022).

But when he didn’t get picked in the NFL Draft, the CFL was his next option.

“My agent told me about it. He reached out to a couple of teams and I guess in a matter of a couple hours, the Riders sent over the paperwork and then I had to go get my passport to be on the way up here,” Anderson said.

“It’s a great opportunity. Not only is it a good opportunity to play professional football here in Canada, but it’s my first time out of the country. I had to go through the whole transition with the passport and everything. It’s new people and new food, new opportunities with football. I’m living a dream right now. It’s a blessing.”

Hailing from South Carolina, Anderson has had to get used to the briskness Saskatchewan weather in May throughout rookie camp and main camp.

“It’s really hot where I am from – it’s about 101 F where I am from right now. It feels like going into the wintertime in the morning here, and then the heat kicks up and then it gets right back cool. I’m having to change the thermostat in the room sometimes,” Anderson said.

Anderson is competing with Trent Pennix and Thomas Bertrand-Hudon for the backup running back spot, behind AJ Ouellette. The running backs will get a chance to show off what they can do in the team’s first preseason game on Saturday against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Kickoff for the game is set for 2 p.m. The game can be watched on CFL+.

“I’m just appreciative of every opportunity that I have,” Anderson said. “Whatever I can do to make the team better in any shape or form, I am just thankful for the opportunity they are giving me.”

If he does make the team, he said he could provide his teammates with some new haircuts as well.

“I told my mom to ship my clippers and everything up here,” Anderson said.

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