Outside linebacker Kevin Anderson, a Palo Alto High alum of 2011, will be a fifth-year senior for Stanford this fall. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound Anderson, an all-Pac-12 honorable mention pick last year after recording 5.5 sacks, talked to Daily News reporter John Reid after spring football practice session on Monday. The Cardinal resumed practice after a three-week layoff.

DN: How was your first day back?

KA: It”s good to be back on the field running around. Three weeks off is a long time.

DN: What did the front seven work on during the first session?

KA: In general, we are really young. The young guys are working hard and are getting a lot better. We”ll be solid on the D-line, but we”re pretty thin. These guys work their butts off every day. That goes a long way.

DN: Did you lose a lot of people on defense?

KA: We lost a lot of veteran guys, but we have a lot of talent coming up.

DN: So this is your last year?

KA: It went by really quick. I feel like I just graduated from Paly.

DN: Did you and Keller Chryst play together at Paly?

KA: He was a freshman when I was a senior, so we didn”t play together. He”s buddies with my little brother, so we”ve known each other for a little while. It”s cool that I have the opportunity to play with him now.

DN: How are you doing with your major, civil engineering?

KA: I”m about to finish my undergrad. I”m doing a master”s program in construction management for my fifth year.

DN: Are you still working on pass coverage?

KA: I understand the concepts well. I just need to go out and perfect the small things and do them right.

DN: Have you gone against the offense this spring?

KA: Yeah, they have a lot of veteran guys and are looking good. (Tackle) Kyle Murphy is turning into an Andrus Peat. You can”t get around him.

DN: Stanford was 8-5 last year, not good enough now compared to previous years. Is that motivation for this season?

KA: Yes. We tasted what it was to be successful. Last year, we rested on our laurels. This year, it”s a good kick in the pants for the offseason. You don”t just walk in and win 10 games. You have to put in the effort.

Email John Reid at jreid@dailynewsgroup.com; follow him at twitter.com/dailynewsjohn.