Interview: 2017 IMG Academy 4-Star LB/RB Jordan Anthony is a Next Level Talent on Both Sides of the Ball

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

IMG Academy has quickly earned a well-deserved reputation for turning emerging high school talent into next level “must-get” players. At last count, nearly 20 players in the 2016 recruiting class signed with college teams on National Signing Day with a majority of those players inking their letters of intent with Power Five Conference schools. The 2017 class is well on their way to accomplishing the same feat with five players already verbally committed to schools like Michigan State, Maryland, and Ohio State.

One of the many Crusaders college coaches are hoping to reel in when the 2017 class signs in February 2017 is linebacker/running back Jordan Anthony.

Anthony came to IMG Academy after a successful sophomore season with Our Lady of Good Counsel. The Falcons went 10-2 in 2014 producing their own high level of talent to the next level in defensive end Darius Fullwood (Virginia Tech), defensive back Roger Richardson (Robert Morris), athlete Andrew Ashley (Monmouth), and wide receiver Myles Robinson (Virginia). The Olney area school still produced top talent in the 2016 class seeing linebacker Keandre Jones head to Ohio State, defensive back Travon Stott go to Maryland, and defensive end Izon Pulley to Illinois.

The Falcons ended up 7-6 without Anthony playing on both sides of the ball but IMG went 9-0 morphing their new player into a full-time running back. The 6’1”, 228 pound, talent was the second leading rusher for the Crusaders behind Notre Dame signee Tony Jones (514 yards, 11 touchdowns) producing 241 yards off 43 carries with three scores.

Anthony’s body of work and athletic ability has translated into 25 college offers. The list is impressive with Clemson, Maryland, Oklahoma, Penn State, Michigan, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Mississippi State, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Ohio State, Pitt, South Carolina, Nebraska, Tennessee, and North Carolina all after his verbal commitment. The big question is where will Anthony play at the next level, running back or linebacker?

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down for an in-depth one-on-one with the four-star talent to get his thoughts on his 2015 season, his offseason workouts, and received an update on his recruitment.

Interview

Jordan, you’ve played on both sides of the ball during your high school career. Which position do you think you are better at right now, running back or linebacker?

“I’d say linebacker. I’d say it is more natural to me than being a running back.”

What are your strengths on the field as a linebacker?

“I would say my covering ability and physicality. I try to do my best with that. I watch at lot of Ray Lewis (Baltimore Ravens) and Mike Singletary (Chicago Bears) film.”

What are some of the things you do well as a running back with the ball in your hands?

“Of course after playing linebacker, I bring that physicality with me. I’m a hardnosed runner who can get the extra yards. I’ll hit you to get the yards instead of going out of bounds.”

Are you going to play on both sides of the ball next year or will you be strictly at either running back or linebacker?

“Right now I’m strictly a linebacker. During the season maybe they will change it up and I’ll do both. Right now I’m strictly a linebacker. I might be a short yardage back for the team if needed.”

Will we see you on special teams during your senior year?

“Here at IMG Academy, the best players are on special teams. I’ll be on special teams wherever they need me.”

What are you working on with your game this offseason?

“We are in spring ball right now. Every day we are working on the playbook. I’m working on my coverage, my drops, and getting in my area. I’m working on taking on linemen and shedding my blocks. Things like that.”

How does the team look this spring so far?

“I think we’ll be good.”

Have you maxed out in any of the football lifts this offseason?

“Not since the winter time. During the winter my bench was 315 and my squat was 430.”

What goals have you set for yourself for the 2016 season?

“I want to develop the best that I can. I want to perfect my craft.”

Do you have a weight gain goal you want to hit before your senior year?

“Honestly, I’ll see where my body takes me. A lot of schools are looking at me on the outside (linebacker). As long as I keep my speed, however I grow I’m fine with that weight.”

How many offers do you have on the table?

“Twenty-five.”

Are any of the schools pushing a little bit harder than the others?

“I’d say Maryland, Clemson, Oklahoma, Michigan, Auburn, Florida, and Iowa are a few off the top of my head – oh and Penn State and Virginia Tech.”

Are there any schools showing a lot of recruiting attention to you that have not offered you yet?

“UCLA – I’m not sure if they have offered me yet or not. I talked to their linebackers coach, Coach (Scott) White, last season. That is a place I’d like to see. Cal and Florida State are contacting me too. I’m not sure if I have an offer from either of them or not.”

Being from Maryland and with your teammate Camaron Spence (defensive tackle) having already committed to the Terrapins, are you getting a lot of pressure to return home for your college ball?

“Yeah. We talk about this a lot. The “come home play for home crowd” stuff. We talk about that every day. I’ve told everyone my decision is my own and they understand that.”

Which schools have you made unofficial visits to so far?

“Michigan, Penn State, Clemson, and Maryland. With IMG, we went to Florida, FSU, and Auburn.”

How did your visit to Michigan go?

“I had a great time. The spring game went well. We toured the campus and saw everything. For me personally, I want to major in business or finance. I think they have the No. 4 ranked business program in the country. I like their academics. Their facilities are nice. I think they have a new indoor turf field. The staff was nice too.”

How did your trip to Maryland go?

“The Maryland visit was great too. We did not tour the facilities but I’ve heard they are nice. I met the staff for the first time. I got a good vibe from them. I did not go up there for practice, so I did not see that. I must admit, Coach (D.J.) Durkin (head coach) got me excited about Maryland.”

What about your Clemson visit, how did that go?

“I went down when they played Florida State. I had a great time on that visit. The crowd was energized, that was great to see. I got to meet the staff and I talked to Coach (Brent) Venables (defensive coordinator/linebackers coach). We talked about where I would play in their system and things like that. Their facilities are nice and they are still building. I believe they have a new indoor practice facility. That visit definitely was a great visit.”

Do you have any upcoming visits planned?

“I have talked to my parents about which schools we might visit coming up. I think we are looking at South Carolina. We are going to try to go to Oklahoma and possibly Virginia Tech. We may go to LSU and I might go to Florida again.”

You seem wide open to the process based on all the schools you would like to visit. Do you have preference on which conference you would like to play in at the college level?

“Honestly I don’t have a preference. I want to be on a team that can hang with any team in any conference.”

Have you put out or come up with a list of your top schools yet?

“I’m supposed to be doing that soon, if not this week next week.”

What is your time frame on making a decision on where you will play your college ball?

“I’m not sure. I have thought about doing it on National Signing Day or during one of the All-Star games.”

You mentioned a strong business program and a competitive team as two things that are important to you about which school you will pick when your time comes. Are there any other things that will influence that final decision?

“My major, that will be the first thing. Hopefully I will be in an environment that when I wake up I can’t wait for practice and I can’t wait to go to school. I want that good vibe. That’s big for me. Nice weather too but not that much.”

Do you play any other sports for IMG?

“I played baseball this year.”

How did baseball go for you?

“It was good. I think I did alright.”

Do you have a GPA you don’t mind sharing?

“Last quarter I was above a 3.0. I say that with confidence but I’m not sure exactly what it was.”

Have you taken the SAT or ACT yet?

“I take the SAT on Saturday.”

Good luck.

“Thanks.”

What is your favorite subject in school?

“I’d say math.”

Last question, what is your favorite part of playing football?

“That is a good question – I don’t know. I just love the game as a whole.”

Jordan, thanks for your time today. Good luck with your test on Saturday and good luck with all of your upcoming visits.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: maxpreps.com; No. 4 Jordan Anthony breaks free for a long gain.

Photo credit: scout.com; Jordan Anthony at a Nike camp.

Photo credit: Anthony family; Jordan Anthony and family at Michigan with Jim Harbaugh (left).

Photo credit: Anthony family; Jordan Anthony with Maryland head coach D.J. Durkin.