The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MARCH 2017 THE WOLVERINE 41 2017 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE MEASURABLES • At Nike's The Opening Finals in Beaverton, Ore., last summer, Anthony ran the 40-yard dash in 4.73 seconds and posted a 4.35-second 20-yard shuttle run. He also recorded a vertical jump of 31 inches and a power throw of 41.0 feet. Following that test- ing, he earned a Nike+ Football Rating of 108.03. STATISTICS • As a senior, Anthony had 79 tackles, including five tackles for loss, along with 0.5 sacks and three passes defensed, help- ing IMG to their second straight undefeated season and a No. 2 national ranking from USA Today with him on the roster. • During his junior season, he carried the ball 43 times for 241 yards and three touchdowns, as well as bringing in two receptions for 23 yards. Anthony also had a blocked punt. HONORS • Selected second-team USA Today All-USA Florida as a senior. • Was an All-Sentinel honorable mention as a sophomore. The Sentinel newspapers cover Maryland, Delaware and Washington, D.C. ALL-STAR GAMES AND CAMPS • Attended the Rivals Camp Series Richmond in 2015. • Attended Nike's The Opening regional camp in Orlando in 2016 and took home the linebacker MVP award. RECRUITMENT • Committed Dec. 21, 2016. • Had a final group of Auburn, Maryland, Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan. • Took official visits to Oklahoma (Dec. 3) and Michigan (Oct. 1). • Linebackers coach Chris Partridge, along with head coach Jim Harbaugh, were instrumental in landing Anthony. NOTABLE • Born July 6. 1998, in Maryland. He played his first two years of prep football at Olney (Md.) Our Lady of Good Counsel. • Also plays baseball at IMG Academy and has flirted with the idea of playing both sports in college. • Won a Pop Warner Super Bowl in 2008. • Prep teammate of fellow freshman Cesar Ruiz at IMG. 2017 PROJECTION Michigan's linebacking corps is going to be young and in- experienced in 2017, and that could make it possible for a freshman to contribute. An- thony has all of the tools to do so. He's extremely active, ath- letic and instinctive as a line- backer — and that could be enough to earn some playing time in his rookie campaign. Don't expect Anthony to red- shirt as a true freshman. THEY SAID IT R ivals.com National Re - cruiting Analyst Mike Far- rell: "Anthony is not the lon- gest linebacker, but he has a non-stop motor and will be an instant favorite of defensive coordinator Don Brown. With Michigan's multiple blitzing schemes, having a guy like Anthony who times things up well and can come off the edge will be an asset." Rivals.com Southeast Recruiting Analyst Rob Cassidy: "Anthony is the most active member of an IMG defense that might just be the nation's best. He moves incredibly well laterally and is a versatile player that shined as a run- ning back before moving to linebacker full time. "He's as disruptive a linebacker as there is in the class and seems to be in the backfield on most snaps." Michigan Linebackers Coach Chris Partridge: "Jordan is a phenomenal athlete. He is very fast and explosive, and this year had a heck of a season at linebacker. He makes plays all over the field and can play both inside and out- side. "He's a phenomenal baseball player as well and just an all-around great athlete. He will add versatility to the line- backer core, and we are really excited to have him. "It is great that Cesar Ruiz and Jordan are going to be playing together again. Their IMG coaches mentioned that they were the team's two biggest leaders on offense and defense. " Defensive Coordinator Don Brown: "Jordan is one of those guys who has tremendous position flexibility. He is extremely sudden and will explode at the point of contact. He is a guy who can play against spread offenses and can play in space. He is a high-motor athlete and chases the ball with great passion. In a word, he is relentless." JORDAN ANTHONY LINEBACKER 6-0 • 235 IMG ACADEMY (BRADENTON, FLA.) SILVER SPRING, MD. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 26 1 (ILB) 6 (Fla.) ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 153 8 (OLB) 21(Fla.) ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 210 8 (OLB) 27(Fla.) ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 124 9 (ATH) 24(Fla.) Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Mike Farrell rated all five-star recruits' chances of being a bust, and the expert labeled Anthony's probability of not living up to the hype "low." PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM RIVALS.COM SOUTHEAST RECRUITING ANALYST ROB CASSIDY "He's as disruptive a linebacker as there is in the class and seems to be in the backfield on most snaps."