Amerson played high school football at Samuel F.B. Morse High School in San Diego, California. He went on to play college football for the Dixie State Rebels of Dixie State College from 1993 to 1994 and was named a junior college All-American each year. He then played for the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks of Northern Arizona University from 1995 to 1996. In Amerson's senior year of 1996, he won the Walter Payton Award as the best offensive player in Division I-AA (now FCS) football.