In a small restaurant in the South Carolina town of Newberry, no one recognized the running back eating lunch with his uncle.

But Sam Addison wanted his nephew, Mario Anderson, to remember this moment — to remember what it was like to be anonymous, a Division II walk-on running back who was redshirting and couldn't even be around the team facility all the time.

They talked about classes and adjusting to college. And about working out — Addison had bought Anderson a gym membership. Then Addison changed his tone.

"Take all of this in," he said. "Because at some point, you're not going to be able to walk in to a small establishment like this and not be recognized."

By the time Anderson left Newberry three years later, he'd broken school records, become a Division II All-American and picked up offers from Division I schools across the country. After a year as South Carolina's leading rusher, he entered the transfer portal again in December and will finish his college career with Memphis football in 2024.

"Overall, my journey, I wouldn't replace it," Anderson said. "I wouldn't start over at all. Because that's what made me who I am today."

A 'chip on his shoulder'

Anderson was always an athlete. His older brothers played football, and his dad once incorrectly listed his age so he could sign up for a 6-year-old football league when he was only five. He also played soccer, wrestled and ran track.

He bounced around a few different high schools, at one point moving to Ohio to live with his father and attend Ginn Academy before moving back to his native South Carolina and spending his final two years at Stratford High School in Summerville.

Off the field issues — "self-inflicted wounds...being young and dumb," Anderson says — hurt his recruitment. Still, he was committed to play at FCS-level Charleston Southern before a coaching change meant he no longer had his offer.

And there were no other options.

Dennie McDaniel, his high school coach, called Newberry coach Todd Knight, and Anderson was visiting campus the next day. Knight offered him $500 of scholarship money — everything he had available at the time. Anderson took it.

"Life is a series of adjustments," Addison told him.

He adjusted quickly. He amassed over 3,000 rushing yards in his three seasons at Newberry, including a school-record 1,560 in his final season there. He once rushed for 201 yards in a quarter. He was named a first team All-American in 2022 and was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, the Division II Heisman.

"I think him going to that D-II level put a little chip on his shoulder," McDaniel said. "Because he knew he could've been playing bigger ball."

Then it was off to South Carolina. He was the Gamecocks' leading rusher in 2023, carrying 143 times for 707 yards. But he wanted a different role for his final collegiate season.

More: How Roc Taylor, Memphis football receiver room can carry the Tigers in 2024 — and beyond

Transferring to Memphis

Anderson was a hot commodity in the transfer portal. USC and Oklahoma were among his finalists.

But there was something about Memphis. Anderson clicked with coach Ryan Silverfield right away, and he knew about Memphis' reputation for generating NFL level running backs. Blake Watson was about to wrap up a season where he'd come in as a graduate transfer, rushed for 1,000 yards and generated significant late-round NFL Draft buzz.

"It's gritty, the way we practice, the way we work out, the way we do everything around here," Anderson said. "It's real gritty. And that's the Memphis way. I love it."

He projects as Memphis' top running back in 2024, occupying the spot Watson had last season and Tony Pollard, Kenneth Gainwell and Antonio Gibson had before him. Memphis was already expected to be among the favorites to win the American Athletic Conference title and potentially earn a spot in the expanded College Football Playoff this season, but adding the leading rusher of an SEC team from a season ago definitely doesn't hurt.

"Memphis did a really good job of making him feel wanted, making him feel valued and making him feel like he was a priority," said Jamie Fordham, a trainer who Anderson has worked with since he was in high school.

This will be Anderson's sixth year of college, but there's a different level of pressure. It's his last year, the last chance to make his mark and set himself up for a shot in the NFL. It's also his first year as a father. His son, Elias, was born late last year.

When Memphis takes the field for its spring game on Saturday, Anderson will be the most-watched addition to the team.

And if he stops to grab a bite to eat afterwards, well, he'll probably get recognized.

Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @thejonahdylan.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Mario Anderson went from D-II to SEC — and ended with Memphis football