Former Wisconsin Badgers standout Vinny Anthony II wrapped up his second and most productive preseason game to date. His first game was plagued by bad quarterback play and a lack of opportunity. But with the Atlanta Falcons giving the reins to the second-stringers in Game 2, Anthony got a chance to show what he was capable of.
Anthony finished tied for a team high with four receptions on as many targets, totaling 43 yards on the game. He also tacked on one kick return for 28 yards, along with some solid reps as a gunner. Special teams and versatility have been a calling card for him since he first stepped foot in the NFL, so it isn’t surprising to see him have this kind of success in actual games.
Making an Impact in a Variety of Ways
Wisconsin fans have had the chance to see this versatility shine over the past couple of seasons, as Anthony has proven himself to be a great playmaker when the opportunity presents itself. The only issue for him has been wavering quarterback play, hindering his production in his senior year and ultimately playing a factor in him going undrafted.
Anthony, no stranger to battling through adversity, came into Falcons camp with an open mind, hoping to find any way he could to get on the field. It didn’t take long for him to turn heads and do just that, a performance that has now translated to on-field play.
Looking Ahead
Now, the next steps for Anthony are relatively simple: continue to do what he has done. It’s always difficult for “skill position” players to make 53-man rosters as UDFAs, as most of the time, teams will allocate resources within the seven rounds of the draft to those positions.
In Anthony’s case, his ability to both make plays at his true position, along with standing out in other facets, has made his path to the field a lot simpler than most others in his position. Sometimes the hardest part for UDFAs is just getting their foot in the door, proving to the coaches that they are capable of handling a handful of snaps.
Now that Anthony has done that and made a flurry of plays in the process, all he has to do is finish camp strong, continue to show out in preseason and set himself up for a real chance to make an impact in his rookie season.
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