Having a productive receiver to throw to is one thing. Having a tall, productive receiver with the skills to go over the middle and get a first down to change the outcome of a game is another. That latter definition fits Bryan Anderson, a former walk-on and soon-to-be four-year starting receiver of the Mid-American Conference's Central Michigan Chippewas.

One special aspect about Anderson, a Rockford, Mich., native, is that he is an exceptional student. He currently has a 3.31 GPA and is majoring in biomedical sciences. The two-time Academic All-MAC caught at least five passes in seven games for the Chips last season, and his 63 total receptions were the seventh-best single-season total in school history. Anderson is the second receiver in school history to earn All-MAC first team honors twice and is CMU's all-time leader in receptions (226) and touchdown catches (21).

Assistant head coach/wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni said that Anderson's ethics make him a role model on and off the field and that he's a quiet, hard-working kid who values education.

"Off the field, he's about as good a kid as you ever want to be around. He's the kind of kid you want your daughter to marry; he's a dream to coach," Azzanni said.

Anderson (6-foot-5, 213 pounds) puts a lot of study into football as well, spending plenty of time in the film room. He lines up as a single-set receiver in a spread offense where he can be either finesse or a physical receiver. Azzanni said it really depends on the offense that is called.

"I guess whatever it calls for at that moment he can be it," Azzanni said. "He can be a finesse guy when you're playing off, and if he's got to, he can also be a physical guy. He's really gotten himself more physical since he's been here. He wasn't like that in the beginning, and he has really worked on that to become a physical receiver. I couldn't say that about him two years ago."

Anderson also is a good blocker.

"It's funny with him because he'll finesse you in the running game which means he might not be pancaking DBs onto their backs on every play, but somehow, someway he gets the key block," Azzanni said.

Route running is an art form by good receivers. It's something that Anderson has made improvements on, and it hasn't gone unnoticed.

"Three years ago I couldn't call him a route runner," Azzanni said. "He was a pass catcher. He wasn't a good route runner, but he is now and that's a tribute to him and his hard work. We switched his positions. He was a slot receiver when he came here and slot is easier to play than it is outside [receiver] because you're not constantly getting DBs in your face. Your ability to get separation on people gets exposed on the outside if you're a bad route runner."

Anderson wasn't penalized once last season coming off the line or off his breaks in coverage. It's a testament to his sense of timing, foot speed and overall athleticism. Azzanni doesn't care about 40 times. It's all about getting separation from the defense, getting open and catching the ball, which Anderson does.

"All I care about is that he gets separation on people," Azzanni said. "To me that's good enough. If he could run a 4.4 40 but plays at a 4.8 it doesn't really matter. If he runs a 4.5 or 4.6 40 and plays at 4.5 or 4.6, then I'm fine with that."

Anderson can be a deep threat to stretch the defense, and he also can be a possession receiver because he is technically sound in the routes he runs. He's not the fastest receiver, but he has the functional speed necessary and works hard to create separation and make plays.

Currently, Anderson is projected a sixth-round pick in the 2010 draft. If that holds true, he might be a steal for some lucky team. He has the same type of game as former Ohio State receiver Brian Robiskie, who was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the recent draft.

In the NFL, coaching staffs and scouts look at a receiver's game production to evaluate and gauge his value to increase the team's ability to score more points. Some staffs want speed, some want size. The whole package, obviously, is the goal.

"As college coaches we're the same way as NFL coaches and scouts," Azzanni said. "We get caught up with high school players and their athletic ability and speed and all that. At the end of the day, you've got to look at production. You want guys that have some potential but you also want some guys that have production behind their name."

That's Bryan Anderson.