Vincent Anthony, Jr., DE
School: Duke | Conference: ACC
College Experience: Senior | Age:
Height / Weight: 6’5” / 246 lbs
Projected Draft Status: 5th Round
Player Comparison: Lorenzo Carter
College Statistics
| Tackles | Def Interceptions | Fumbles | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Solo | Ast | Comb | TFL | Sk | Int | Yds | IntTD | PD | FR | Yds | FRTD | FF | Awards |
| 2022* | Duke | ACC | FR | DE | 13 | 14 | 14 | 28 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2023* | Duke | ACC | SO | DE | 11 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2024* | Duke | ACC | JR | DE | 12 | 10 | 15 | 25 | 9.5 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2025* | Duke | ACC | SR | DE | 13 | 21 | 12 | 33 | 13.0 | 7.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Career | 49 | 53 | 50 | 103 | 29.0 | 15.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||
Player Overview
Vincent Anthony, Jr. is Durham, North Carolina, through and through. The son of a standout player a North Carolina Central, Anthony, Jr. began playing football after he became too big to play basketball and soccer. Once in high school, Anthony, Jr. was a standout edge rusher, putting up 129 tackles and 19 sacks
combined during his junior and senior seasons. This earned him a three-star prospect ranking with offers from Ole Miss, Georgia Tech, NC State, and Indiana. Anthony, Jr. wanted to show his community in Durham that it was possible to go to Duke, so he stayed closed to home and played for the Blue Devils.
Anthony, Jr. worked hard once he got on campus, impressing his coaches to the point where he could not be denied playing time. He started 12 of 13 games as a freshman with his play on the field earning him the team’s rookie of the year award. Off the field, he was an Academic All-ACC selection. Anthony Jr. would miss some time as a sophomore, but played in 11 games. As a junior, played in 12 games and received the team’s most improved player award. The last season of his career, Anthony, Jr. played his best football, and earned All-ACC honorable mention and Academic All-ACC, while helping the Blue Devils become ACC Champions.
Strengths
- Long pass rusher with 34” arms
- Quick off the snap with speed to get around tackles
- Effectively uses ghost moves and euro steps to beat blockers
- Uses accurate, active hands to stay free of blockers
- Capable of bending around tackles and flattening to the quarterback
- Uses speed to shoot gaps in the run game and get TFLs
- High motor, often chasing plays from the backside
Weaknesses
- Too few examples of him winning with power rushes
- Strength against the run can be inconsistent
- Hip tightness can make changing direction look labored
- Coverage ability may be limited to the flat
Let’s See His Work
How He Fits on the Commanders
The Commanders need help on the edge, but with new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones, there’s a question of what that player should look like. There is suspicion that given his background with Brian Flores in Minnesota, Washington may use a base 3-4 or more 3-4 looks. Mark Tyler explains in his latest article why the thinks the Commanders would need OLB help to run a 3-4 defense. Even if the Commanders play a 4-3 base defense with Dorance Armstrong and Javontae Jean-Baptiste, the team needs reinforcements in free agency and the draft to have an impactful position group.
Originally, I thought Vincent Anthony, Jr. might be a good fit as a 3-4 OLB. At a lighter weight on the edge, his quickness and speed are attributes that would benefit him in this role. However, the stiffness in his hips that makes changing directions difficult means he will likely struggle if he needs to drop into coverage. If that is the case, Anthony Jr. will probably be best in a 4-3 defense with wide alignments for their defensive ends. While that will allow him to make the most of his speed, he has to get stronger and use that strength in the run and pass game to be more than just a pass-rush specialist. If the Commanders get help off the edge in free agency and use their early draft picks on different positions, Vincent Anthony, Jr. is a Day 3 pick that could boost the pass rush and develop into a more well-rounded, 4-3 defensive end.
