Grambling State's Profile for Christian Anthony

Christian Anthony was named to the 2009 Sports Network Football Championship Subdivision All-America team, was fourth in voting for the Buck Buchanan Award and was voted the 2009 SWAC Defensive Player of the Year. He led the SWAC in solo tackles with 55 as he tied for sixth in the conference with 76 tackles. Anthony also contributed 8 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles, three recoveries, five interceptions for 133 return yards and Anthony had a season-high of 12 tackles against then BCS Top 15 Oklahoma State, and he returned interceptions for touchdowns against non-conference FCS foe Northwestern State and two-time defending SWAC East champion Jackson State. Many have noted his performance against Northwestern State, which also included two interceptions — which led to 14 points for Grambling., Grambling’s Christian Anthony made a series of game-changing plays. Two of them led to touchdowns. Yet none was more memorable for many fans than the play since dubbed “The Tackle” on the play Anthony picked up the rusher and flung him to the ground like a ragdoll. He is the right size for the position and can be aligned on either the Strong or Weak side.

He was initially recruited out of Birmingham, Ala., by a number of larger programs like Southern Miss. Since didn’t do as a well as he’d hoped on the ACT, and was facing a year in junior college, but opted for GSU when they stayed with him.

Anthony has qualities such as: great range, athleticism and pass rush ability that will likely lead to him climbing boards during this post season. He could carry 270+ or slim down to 245, he may be suited to play an outside backer position in a 3-4 scheme in the NFL based on his size and athletic ability to move in space. As a DE, Christian has quick-twitch burst off the snap and he suddenly shortens distance between him and the OT. From what I witnessed against Texas Southern, he was a player that was very dominant and couldn't be stopped when he decided he was going to be the player he can be. I think Anthony is a leader on defense that every one feeds off of during the game. He brings real intensity and with dominant attitude. Anthony has the athletic ability and tools to make big plays and change a game and has the potential to do the same in the NFL.

As a pass rusher he tends to rely on his speed too often to beat his man around the edge and needs to add other pass rush moves. Anthony's not the most disciplined player when it comes to staying in his gaps. There have been times when he goes for the big play too much. At times he winds up giving up big yards, he needs to be a little more conscientious about staying scheme respsonsible. It appears he may take some plays off when his team has a comfortable lead also he can be pushed off the ball in the run game. Does not always use his hands and power well to avoid getting walled off and sealed on a perimeter runs and at times he losses containment to his side. If he is to be a DE he needs to gain more upper and lower body power, to play OLB he'll need to polish his coverage game considerably.

If he he has lackluster work outs he could fall lower or out of the draft, but I believe he could become a third or fourth round draft pick in the NFL draft in 2011.

Your Projected NFL Draft Round: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Undrafted

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