2012 (Junior)
Zaire Anderson played in three games before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Anderson received a medical hardship and has two season of eligibility remaining at Nebraska.

Before Nebraska (Riverside CC)
Anderson was one of two newcomers in the 2012 class to join the Husker program from the junior college ranks, and the 5-11, 220-pound Anderson is one of four linebackers in the class. Anderson joins the program with two seasons of remaining eligibility after starring at Riverside (Calif.) City College in 2010 and 2011. Anderson helped Coach Tom Craft’s team to a 21-1 record over the past two years, including a perfect 11-0 record in 2011. Anderson was a playmaker at linebacker, finishing 2011 with 95 tackles, including 19 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery. In his final game at Riverside, Anderson registered 12 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and forced two fumbles in a 31-14 bowl victory over Saddleback Junior College. For his play in 2011, Anderson was named a JC Gridwire All-American and the National Division East Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Anderson quickly became an impact player for Riverside in 2010, finishing the year with 92 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and nine sacks to earn second-team all-conference honors. A native of Philadelphia, Pa., Anderson starred at Frankford High School where he was a first-team All-Philadelphia Public selection in his senior season. He is the first Pennsylvania native to sign with Nebraska since 1999. Anderson was regarded as the top junior college linebacker prospect and No. 13 overall JUCO player by Rivals.com, while JC Gridiron.com named him as one of its “Dirty Dozen” Outside Linebackers. Anderson only visited Nebraska but had numerous scholarship offers, including Texas Tech, Mississippi State and Kentucky.