CedarHillDad
08-31-2007, 07:23 AM
Anthony Blue Cedar Hill Graduate (http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1200&u_sid=10119272)
Football: Freshman Blue makes quick strides
BY MITCH SHERMAN
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU
LINCOLN — Anthony Blue's teammates at Nebraska rave about his maturity. They tell stories of how he watched more film during the summer than even the seniors. A few days ago in practice, a receiver grew visibly upset with Blue at the end of a pass play. The older Husker swatted at him and knocked Blue's helmet clear off.
The 18-year-old cornerback just stood there. Such composure is rare for a veteran, let alone a true freshman.
Interesting thing, down at Kansas, they're saying the same thing about receiver Dezmon Briscoe, another rookie.
One of at least six in his class expected to play Saturday at 2:30 p.m. as NU opens against Nevada at Memorial Stadium, Blue attended Cedar Hill High School near Dallas. His team finished 16-0 last season and won the Texas 5A Division II championship.
Cedar Hill placed 11 seniors off its title team into Division I and 19 overall in college football.
One of them was Briscoe. See the connection?
"Some of the stuff that Anthony is doing is just stuff that he thinks he's supposed to do," Cedar Hill coach Joey McGuire said. "He's always done it. It's become part of his work ethic, part of who he is."
Blue's rapid progression flies in the face of conventional recruiting wisdom. At least 10 fellow NU newcomers ranked as better catches last year.
This year, the Huskers appear stacked at cornerback, led by Blackshirts Cortney Grixby, Andre Jones and Zack Bowman — all seniors — and junior Armando Murillo.
"We've got five corners with Blue," coach Bill Callahan said.
Still, Blue has avoided a redshirt season because of his unequaled mental readiness. He'll start the season primarily on special teams with an opportunity to work into several packages as an extra defensive back.
"When I first saw him in the summer, I actually went in to (cornerbacks) coach (Phil Elmassian) and said, 'That Anthony, he's going to be the next big thing in here,'" Grixby said. "He's just born with talent and ability.
"He's going to be a great, great player, because he just picks up on things so fast. It's a rarity."
Elmassian, in 33 years of coaching, said he can compare Blue's approach to football with only one player: Torrian Gray, a former three-time All-Big East safety at Virginia Tech. Gray, the second-year secondary coach at Virginia Tech, got his first full-time college assistant job seven years ago at age 26.
"We used to have to throw him out in the summer," Elmassian said.
Just like Blue.
"He's a very cerebral young man," Elmassian said. "If you've had a chance to talk to him, he's not looking at you. He's looking through you. He's like a sponge. He sucks it all in."
The top player from Cedar Hill last year, running back William Cole, went to Oklahoma State as a defensive back. Blue and Briscoe figure to get playing time in the Big 12 this year. Tory Tyner, the cornerback who lined up opposite Blue, is a freshman at Tulsa.
The list goes on.
This type of training is not exclusive to Cedar Hill. At nearby Southlake Carroll, another Texas 5A power, players often leave for college in a similarly advanced state.
The Big 12's best example might be Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel, a Southlake Carroll grad who made a seemingly easy transition to college two years ago.
"Because of where they've been and who they've played against, the speed of the game is not drastically different to them," McGuire said. "But with Anthony, it's more than that. He's special. He's a pleaser. He wants to do all he can to please his coaches at Nebraska."
And it's not just his coaches. Blue said he's also motivated to work hard to please his father.
"I don't want to let him down," Blue said. "I don't want to be just another freshman."
Anthony Blue Sr. set the single-season record for pass breakups at UNLV in 1984.
He played in three games with the Seattle Seahawks in 1987 and then in the Canadian Football League before moving to Dallas to be near his three sons, who lived with his ex-wife.
Anthony Jr. is the youngest.
"He's always been focused," Anthony Sr. said. "Even when he was little and played on Pop Warner teams. He'd score touchdowns, and he never celebrated. When you see a kid like that, you always knew he was going to go far."
The elder Blue said he taught his son the game at age 6. He showed him how to back pedal and use his hands as a defensive back.
Apparently, it's all paid off for Blue, proof that a near-flawless football pedigree does make a difference.
"For him, it's football 24-7," said sophomore Larry Asante, the Huskers' starting strong safety and a fellow newcomer. "He wants to know all the techniques. Anthony doesn't look at himself as a freshman. Anthony looks at himself as a football player."
Other freshmen to watch
Niles Paul
Position: Wide receiver
Hometown: Omaha North
Measurables: 6-1, 210
Outlook: Physically advanced rookie might return kicks, earn limited time among deep receiving corps.
Roy Helu
Position: I-Back
Hometown: Danville, Calif.
Measurables: 6-0, 210
Outlook: Nice combination of size and speed, he may rank as top offensive sleeper in '07 recruiting class.,
Quentin Castille
Position: I-Back
Hometown: LaPorte, Texas
Measurables: 6-1, 245
Outlook: Huskers' biggest big back, he'll see time in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
Patrick Witt
Position: Quarterback
Hometown: Wylie, Texas
Measurables: 6-4, 220
Outlook: Impressive option behind Sam Keller and Joe Ganz, he'll likely play only in an emergency.
Blake Lawrence
Position: Linebacker
Hometown: Shawnee Mission, Kan.
Measurables: 6-2, 220
Outlook: Slated to play on special teams and see limited action behind veteran group of linebackers.
Thomas Grove
Position: Linebacker
Hometown: Arlington, Neb.
Measurables: 6-2, 210
Outlook: Walk-on surprise earned a role on special teams and sits third on the depth chart at weakside spot.
Adi Kunalic
Position: Kicker
Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas
Measurables: 6-0, 175
Outlook: More opportunities to make an impact than other freshman, he'll kick off and likely try long field goals.
Football: Freshman Blue makes quick strides
BY MITCH SHERMAN
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU
LINCOLN — Anthony Blue's teammates at Nebraska rave about his maturity. They tell stories of how he watched more film during the summer than even the seniors. A few days ago in practice, a receiver grew visibly upset with Blue at the end of a pass play. The older Husker swatted at him and knocked Blue's helmet clear off.
The 18-year-old cornerback just stood there. Such composure is rare for a veteran, let alone a true freshman.
Interesting thing, down at Kansas, they're saying the same thing about receiver Dezmon Briscoe, another rookie.
One of at least six in his class expected to play Saturday at 2:30 p.m. as NU opens against Nevada at Memorial Stadium, Blue attended Cedar Hill High School near Dallas. His team finished 16-0 last season and won the Texas 5A Division II championship.
Cedar Hill placed 11 seniors off its title team into Division I and 19 overall in college football.
One of them was Briscoe. See the connection?
"Some of the stuff that Anthony is doing is just stuff that he thinks he's supposed to do," Cedar Hill coach Joey McGuire said. "He's always done it. It's become part of his work ethic, part of who he is."
Blue's rapid progression flies in the face of conventional recruiting wisdom. At least 10 fellow NU newcomers ranked as better catches last year.
This year, the Huskers appear stacked at cornerback, led by Blackshirts Cortney Grixby, Andre Jones and Zack Bowman — all seniors — and junior Armando Murillo.
"We've got five corners with Blue," coach Bill Callahan said.
Still, Blue has avoided a redshirt season because of his unequaled mental readiness. He'll start the season primarily on special teams with an opportunity to work into several packages as an extra defensive back.
"When I first saw him in the summer, I actually went in to (cornerbacks) coach (Phil Elmassian) and said, 'That Anthony, he's going to be the next big thing in here,'" Grixby said. "He's just born with talent and ability.
"He's going to be a great, great player, because he just picks up on things so fast. It's a rarity."
Elmassian, in 33 years of coaching, said he can compare Blue's approach to football with only one player: Torrian Gray, a former three-time All-Big East safety at Virginia Tech. Gray, the second-year secondary coach at Virginia Tech, got his first full-time college assistant job seven years ago at age 26.
"We used to have to throw him out in the summer," Elmassian said.
Just like Blue.
"He's a very cerebral young man," Elmassian said. "If you've had a chance to talk to him, he's not looking at you. He's looking through you. He's like a sponge. He sucks it all in."
The top player from Cedar Hill last year, running back William Cole, went to Oklahoma State as a defensive back. Blue and Briscoe figure to get playing time in the Big 12 this year. Tory Tyner, the cornerback who lined up opposite Blue, is a freshman at Tulsa.
The list goes on.
This type of training is not exclusive to Cedar Hill. At nearby Southlake Carroll, another Texas 5A power, players often leave for college in a similarly advanced state.
The Big 12's best example might be Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel, a Southlake Carroll grad who made a seemingly easy transition to college two years ago.
"Because of where they've been and who they've played against, the speed of the game is not drastically different to them," McGuire said. "But with Anthony, it's more than that. He's special. He's a pleaser. He wants to do all he can to please his coaches at Nebraska."
And it's not just his coaches. Blue said he's also motivated to work hard to please his father.
"I don't want to let him down," Blue said. "I don't want to be just another freshman."
Anthony Blue Sr. set the single-season record for pass breakups at UNLV in 1984.
He played in three games with the Seattle Seahawks in 1987 and then in the Canadian Football League before moving to Dallas to be near his three sons, who lived with his ex-wife.
Anthony Jr. is the youngest.
"He's always been focused," Anthony Sr. said. "Even when he was little and played on Pop Warner teams. He'd score touchdowns, and he never celebrated. When you see a kid like that, you always knew he was going to go far."
The elder Blue said he taught his son the game at age 6. He showed him how to back pedal and use his hands as a defensive back.
Apparently, it's all paid off for Blue, proof that a near-flawless football pedigree does make a difference.
"For him, it's football 24-7," said sophomore Larry Asante, the Huskers' starting strong safety and a fellow newcomer. "He wants to know all the techniques. Anthony doesn't look at himself as a freshman. Anthony looks at himself as a football player."
Other freshmen to watch
Niles Paul
Position: Wide receiver
Hometown: Omaha North
Measurables: 6-1, 210
Outlook: Physically advanced rookie might return kicks, earn limited time among deep receiving corps.
Roy Helu
Position: I-Back
Hometown: Danville, Calif.
Measurables: 6-0, 210
Outlook: Nice combination of size and speed, he may rank as top offensive sleeper in '07 recruiting class.,
Quentin Castille
Position: I-Back
Hometown: LaPorte, Texas
Measurables: 6-1, 245
Outlook: Huskers' biggest big back, he'll see time in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
Patrick Witt
Position: Quarterback
Hometown: Wylie, Texas
Measurables: 6-4, 220
Outlook: Impressive option behind Sam Keller and Joe Ganz, he'll likely play only in an emergency.
Blake Lawrence
Position: Linebacker
Hometown: Shawnee Mission, Kan.
Measurables: 6-2, 220
Outlook: Slated to play on special teams and see limited action behind veteran group of linebackers.
Thomas Grove
Position: Linebacker
Hometown: Arlington, Neb.
Measurables: 6-2, 210
Outlook: Walk-on surprise earned a role on special teams and sits third on the depth chart at weakside spot.
Adi Kunalic
Position: Kicker
Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas
Measurables: 6-0, 175
Outlook: More opportunities to make an impact than other freshman, he'll kick off and likely try long field goals.