Mario Anderson Jr. locked in at second CFL training camp

Mario Anderson is looking for continued improvement as he enters his sophomore CFL season.

The running back is looking to, once again, crack the roster for the Riders after spending most of 2025 with the team, dressing for nine games. In that action, he had 24 carries for 134 yards and two touchdowns.

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“Physically, everything was there. It was all mental for me as far as being sharp on the playbook, having no (missed assignments), being as perfect as I can –  we strive for perfection, even though we may not get it,” Anderson said. “Just the mental aspect of the game and I feel like everything has really slowed down for me, especially from the motions and everything that has been going on since my first year.”

He’s focusing on “the mental aspect and being locked in.”

The 25-year-old product of Summerville, N.C., has been making the most of his limited time in the preseason. He had four carries for 21 yards in the team’s preseason loss to the Calgary Stampeders. In the win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Saskatoon, Anderson had 44 yards on six carries, which included a 30-yard rush.

But Anderson wasn’t satisfied with the big play.

“It wasn’t good enough to me. I feel there was more meat on the bone. There’s always room for improvement. I had a couple things I could do better on some other plays. Not only does coach (Andrew) Harris hold me and the other guys in the running back room to a high standard and expectation, but I hold myself to a high one as well,” Anderson said.

One of the players who has had a big impact on Anderson has been incumbent starter, A.J. Ouellette. The 30 year old had 1,222 yards and eight rushing touchdowns last season.

“He’s really like a big bro to me. I feel like I had the best of both worlds where I leaned on him a lot and then when Ka’Deem (Carey) came in, on him, and then coach Harris, who is going to be a Hall of Famer. Just a mixture of all those guys, especially A.J. He has been a real big help with my journey so far being a rookie last year and even now,” Anderson said. “He calls me one of his rookies – he has a couple of rookies and I am one of them so I take that as an A-plus.”

Harris said he thinks Anderson attacked the offseason with a more serious approach and morphed his body a bit for year two.

“He’s got immense contact balance and is an explosive back. He is great in protections and is a guy we really see a lot of value in,” Harris said. “Just seeing his game elevate and get more comfortable in the offence has been awesome to see.”

The other running back looking to stick with the team has been Quali Conley. The 23-year-old Fresno, Calif., product had four carries for 11 yards against the Stampeders and then carried the ball nine times for 32 yards against the Bombers.

Anderson said they are all competing against each other, but also look to support the other rushers as well.

“Everyone is learning from each other’s reps, everyone is seeing how we can do better and, ultimately, applaud each other because one man can’t carry this ship,” Anderson said.

Notes

Johnny Johnson III didn’t practice on Wednesday after running with the starters in the previous practice. Daniel Wiebe and Mathew Sexton both ran with the starters in his place … Defensive back Tevaughn Campbell had an interception during a passing drill as he went over the middle to snag the Tommy Stevens-thrown ball … Trevor Harris remained sharp as the veteran quarterback connected with Dhel Duncan-Busby for a deep ball in practice.