Vinny Anthony II is proving that he is more than just a gadget guy in Falcons camp

A fairly disastrous 2025-26 season for Wisconsin Badger football led to zero players directly affiliated with the program being drafted, even if a few of them deserved it. One of the few former Badgers for whom you could make a fair argument for deserving a selection within the seven rounds was wide receiver Vinny Anthony II.

Anthony spent the entirety of his college tenure in a Badger uniform, logging 80 catches for 1,162 yards and five touchdowns, but he was always a guy who did a bit of everything for Wisconsin. He took 10 handoffs over his four playing seasons, two of which resulted in touchdowns. He returned 16 punts and 42 kicks, one of which he took back 95 yards for a touchdown. Anthony even played a fair amount of gunner, something rare to see from a team's go-to receiver.

His built-in pedigree made him one of the more sought-after UDFAs, reflected by him getting picked up nearly the moment the draft ended by the Atlanta Falcons. Now, it's no secret that the path to an NFL roster for a UDFA at a premium position like receiver is a very uphill battle, as given the value of the position, most teams will spend draft capital on it if they think it's a position of need.

In Anthony's case, however, his versatility makes him a bit of an outlier, as he has a multitude of ways in which he can get onto the field. He is well aware that his versatility is his superpower as well, being open and willing to do anything that is asked of him to get onto the field.

All around Impact

With that in mind, it hasn't just been his versatility that has shined in camp, as Anthony has made a real impact as a receiver — which makes sense given that is his position at the end of the day. To Wisconsin fans, his impressive play likely comes as no surprise, as Anthony has shown the ability to take over in the past, particularly in his junior year, when he logged 672 yards and four touchdowns.

Fast-forward to Falcons training camp this year, and Anthony ranks second on the team in receptions through 11 practices, logging 15. That mark puts him over the likes of Kyle Pitts and even Zachariah Branch — a guy Atlanta drafted in the third round.

Whether he can keep this pace up throughout the rest of camp is a bit of a mystery, as the Falcons' receiving corps continues to build continuity with the quarterbacks and as some others return from injury. Nonetheless, it's a great sign that Anthony has made his impact felt early on, upping his chances of making the 53-man roster when the time comes.

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