Amid a Sunday morning of mourning for Husker fans, one of the team’s standouts took to Twitter. He urged belief in trying times.
“We will turn this around Huskers nation anything in our power!!! #GBR.” running back Anthony Grant tweeted.
If there’s been a silver lining in all three of those games it’s been Grant. The reigning top junior college running back recruit in the nation has 428 yards and five touchdowns on 69 carries. Twenty-six of his rushes have gone for 5 or more yards (five against Northwestern, nine against North Dakota, 12 against Georgia Southern). He’s busted multiple runs of 40 yards or more. Meanwhile, just four of his carries have gone for 0 yards and he’s not yet been tackled for a loss.
Coaches and teammates spoke about Grant’s playmaking abilities in the team’s weekly game week press conference on Sept. 5.
“I thought Anthony’s patience was really good on a couple of runs,” former head coach Scott Frost said. “Not just running blindly up in there but watching for blocks to develop. With a lot of these guys if we can get them on the second level we have a chance to make big plays now.”
The Georgia native impressed once again on Saturday with 138 yards on 27 carries with a touchdown against Georgia Southern. He became the first Husker running back to rush for 100-plus yards in three consecutive games since Devine Ozigbo in 2018. Additionally, he is the first Husker to rush for 100 yards in the first three games of a season since Taylor Martinez in 2010 and the first running back specifically to rush for 100 yards in the first three games since Dan Alexander in 2000.
He runs with patience and purpose. He’s waited for holes to form at the line to reach the next level. He’s attacked those openings with conviction and malice. Early in the third quarter against the Eagles, Grant saw an opening to the left. He lowered his shoulder and plowed through defensive back Wylan Free on the play, who left the game wobbly.
We will turn this around Huskers nation anything in our power!!!#GBR
— PAC-MAN🕹 (@Grant4Anthony) September 11, 2022
Grant moves as if he’s conquering nature. Like a surfer rides a wave or a snowboarder carves through a mountain. His hips stay level while his legs continue their churn. His shoulders constantly lean forward, leading him towards the end zone. He doesn’t shy from contact. He leans into it and uses the kinetic energy to continue his charge.
And, in the big picture, he’s a guy who’s made the most of his opportunity. He transferred from Florida State into junior college. Now, he’s breaking Nebraska rushing records.
“Anthony Grant is great. He is one of those guys that just gets along with everybody,” receiver Alante Brown said last week. “He is a hard worker. Whatever you tell him to do he is going to do it. He just goes full speed every time so that is one guy that I am proud of these past two weeks. I cannot wait to see what he does throughout the rest of the season.”
Next up is a big test in top-10 Oklahoma. The Sooners have allowed just one touchdown through two games and hold teams to 2.31 yards per carry.
It’s also worth noting that only 15 players in program history have had more than three consecutive 100-yard rushing games. Can Grant join that list? Time will tell, but Grant is making a strong case for himself.
