Raised in Glen Ridge, New Jersey,[2] Anderson played prep football at Glen Ridge High School[3] and enrolled at the University of Georgia where he played college football from 1983 to 1985 under head coach Vince Dooley.

[4] As a senior, coach Dooley appointed Anderson as captain of the 1985 Georgia Bulldogs football team.

He led an offensive line that allowed the Bulldogs to score 24 points against a Florida team that was ranked #1 in the country.

"[4] At the end of his senior season, Anderson was a consensus first-team selection for the 1985 College Football All-America Team.

Anderson and his wife, Shawn, have a son, Peter, and three daughters, Tory, Hailey and Susannah.