Vinny Anthony II is in position to make an immediate impact with the Falcons

Although the NFL Draft is typically one of the best nights of the year for football fans, supporters of Wisconsin Badgers sports were likely left disappointed as, for the first time since 1978, zero Badgers were selected. While former Wisconsin players like Skyler Bell and CJ Williams heard their names called, not one player who had spent their final year of school with the Badgers was called, leaving fans all around the Wisconsin sphere widely disappointed.

With that said, numerous Badgers found their way onto NFL training camp rosters as undrafted free agents directly following the draft. One of the more prevalent players was Vinny Anthony II, who was swooped up by the Atlanta Falcons. The 6-foot receiver spent all four years of his collegiate career at Wisconsin, racking up 80 catches for 1,162 yards and 5 receiving touchdowns over his college tenure.

Impact Beyond the Numbers

At face value, those numbers don’t scream “NFL talent,” but considering the context of the situation he was in and what all he brought to the Badgers, it starts to become a surprise that he didn’t hear his name called on draft night. Despite being a cerebral talent, Anthony was never paired with an elite quarterback who could consistently get him the ball, forcing Wisconsin to get creative with how they used him.

Over his college career, Anthony was used in pretty much every way imaginable, doing everything from taking carries out of the backfield, to returning kicks, and even playing gunner on special teams. Luke Fickell and the rest of the Wisconsin coaching staff understood just how talented a player he was and, as a result, tried to get him on the field in as many ways as possible.

Instant Impact

Because of his vast experience playing a variety of positions, Anthony is now heading to Atlanta with a more well-rounded skillset than a typical receiver, making him a bit more intriguing as a player. The Falcons will likely not need his talents at wideout much, relying on the existing talent they have, possibly Anthony in for select packages.

Where Anthony could really make his mark, however, is by doing exactly what he did at Wisconsin — being an elite gadget guy. Atlanta will likely give him an opportunity to return kicks and play special teams, two things he excelled at in college and something he is on record saying he is willing to do. If Anthony can stand out there and continue to improve his route tree, he seems like a sure-fire pick to make the final 53-man roster when the season rolls around.

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