ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Alec Anderson didn’t always dream of being an NFL offensive lineman.

As a matter of fact, at one point growing up, he didn’t want to be an offensive lineman at all. 

After a high school coach asked him to change position from linebacker to the line o-line, he called his mother crying.

“‘That’s where they put all the fat, unathletic white dudes,’” he told her. “I was like, ‘I’m not going to do that.’” 

Years later, the move proved to pay off. Anderson is now in his third season with the Bills, working his way up from undrafted college free agent from UCLA to the Bills practice squad to playing in his first four career regular season games this year. 

“You really kind of resist some things until you fully embrace them and you don’t really see the beauty in it until you fully accept what’s going to happen,” he said.

Anderson has carved out a role as a guy who can do just about everything on the offensive line. He’s had to learn all five spots as a backup and has often been used this season to play tight end when the Bills call for their jumbo package with a sixth offensive lineman.

“I have some of the most fun when I’m at jumbo tight end, because it’s awesome,” Anderson said. “You get to go to a different position not a lot of big guys go to, and you get to do athletic stuff of going in motion, maybe going out for a pass one day. Something fun, you know.” 

While he might sound happy-go-lucky away from the field, Anderson plays with a nasty streak on the turf.

“For those three or four seconds, just try to be as vicious and mean as I possibly can, but do it all controlled though,” he said.

His path to the pros hasn’t always been easy, but he’s leaned on those around him. One of his uncles is current Bills assistant special teams coach Cory Harkey, who played five seasons in the NFL. Another uncle, Mike Sweeney, was a five-time all-star in Major League Baseball.

Anderson has absorbed plenty from those two though his journey.  

“Perseverance and really if you want to get something done and you want to be great at something, you’re going to have to sacrifice and suffer a little bit for the betterment of you trying to be a pro,” he said.

That’s advice Anderson would give to his younger self — remembering that teenage kid and how far he’s come. 

“Sometimes you don’t think it’s right decision, but other people can see the untapped potential you have in yourself,” he said.

It’s something the Bills have tapped into to positive results through plenty of blood, sweat — and maybe a few tears.