DE JuJu Anderson Using Freshman Season to Bulk Up | Pitt All 105

All 105 is a Pittsburgh Sports Now series profiling each member of the Pitt 2025 training camp roster. In order to prepare for Pitt football’s 2025 season, PSN is breaking down every player on the roster in alphabetical order. Next up is defensive end JuJu Anderson.

When defensive line coach Tim Daoust was out looking to land his first commitment as a Pitt assistant, he was fed some information on a kid transferring from Florida to Blair Academy in New Jersey.

As Daoust did a little more digging, he found a player that fit exactly what he was looking for in an edge rusher.

“I wrote the name down and boom I looked it up and there’s this freak athlete,” Daoust said in December. “Long, athletic kid coming up there from Florida.

“You get on the phone with the kid, unbelievable energy. Positive at all times. Long, rangy kid. I think he’s got the tools with what we’re looking for in the pass rushing game.”

Anderson joined Pitt as an early enrollee after playing both ways at Blair as a wide receiver and defensive end. During the spring, it was a goal of Anderson’s to add on some weight to complement his length and speed.

“My strength is my speed being elusive around the passer. Trying to put on that weight to be a dominant run stopper,” Anderson said in January.

Getting an early jump at the college level has allowed Anderson an opportunity to learn and start developing in the Pitt system.

Pitt defensive end JuJu Anderson at spring practice on March 13, 2025 — Ed Thompson / PSN

Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 220 pounds
Hometown: Orlando, Fla.

2024 season: Anderson was a two-way standout last season at Blair Academy that went 4-5.

Stats: Compiled 29 tackles, 7.5 for loss, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery on defense. At receiver, he totaled 19 catches for 233 yards.

Camp outlook: As an early enrollee, Anderson had a solid spring, showcasing his potential through his quickness and explosiveness in drills. Anderson will take fall camp as another stage in his development.

Projected role: Anderson could see some time during non-conference action in the late stages of games as he will most likely redshirt this fall.

He is in good company and will learn behind a group of veteran defensive ends that includes Jimmy Scott, Nate Temple, Eastern Michigan transfer Joey Zelinsky, Utah State transfer Blaine Spires and others.

If Anderson can put on the desired weight and it translates well on the field, redshirting this fall could open up to an opportunity sooner rather than later in the coming years for him to make an impact, especially with the expected turnover of at least three graduating edge rushers.

Anderson was rated as a three-star prospect and the 113th edge rusher in the class. He selected Pitt over other offers from West Virginia, Duke, Syracuse, Boston College, UConn, Appalachian State, Central Michigan, Western Kentucky and others.

A quote about Anderson: “Was able to see him work out in the spring, work out in the fall at practice. He;s playing both sides of the football and that’s what you want to see. He’s a leadership kid. I watched him practice at the front of the line, telling other kids what to do in a positive manner. Those are the kids you want to watch grow into his body because I think he’s got tremendous upside and the skills we want to rush the passer here at Pitt in a long line of guys that have done it here,” Daoust said.

A quote from Anderson: “I got a lot of room to grow. My upside is my highest point. Being twitchy and fast, I got a long frame and I’m able to move faster than some smaller guys. Keeping that up and being athletic and filling that out and get a little bit bigger during the offseason.”