Stephone Anthony LB Clemson #42
Wt: 243
[level-scouting-reports]
Size/Athleticism: Ideal size. Tested extremely well at the combine but it doesn’t necessarily translate to the field. Movements are a little more choppy on the field than in his workouts. Also played baseball and basketball in high school.
Run Defense: Strong closing speed. Has the athleticism to cover ground but must improve his recognition skills. Late to react which cuts down on his ability to be a true sideline-to-sideline player. Poor angles in pursuit. Misjudges running backs speed frequently.
Pass Rush: Flashes some effectiveness slipping through gaps in the middle. A capable situational pass-rusher and can catch the offensive line off guard with his explosiveness. Pass-rush requires a lot less recognition skill, which suits him.
Coverage: Gets lost in zone coverage. Struggles to make decisions and his attention is drawn in multiple directions. Bites hard on play action. Better in man coverage when his raw athleticism can just take over.
Intangibles: Lost starting job in 2012 but earned it back in 2013. Team captain as a senior.
Durability: Missed time with an ankle injury in 2011. Surgery on his finger in 2012. Started every game over final two years.
[/level-scouting-reports]
Overview: Anthony tested extremely well at the combine but his lack of recognition skills severely limit his ability to translate that athleticism to the field. He takes poor angles against the run, bites on fakes and often gets lost and starts to drift in coverage. He’s a developmental prospect who must work on the mental side of the game before he’s ready to be an impact player. Expect him to work on special teams early in his career.
