Anthony Blue, a 5’ 11”, 175 pound graduate student from Dillon has been invited to the NFL Players Association Bowl, the second Newberry College football player to ever be invited.
Courtesy of Newberry Athletic Dept.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In January of 2022, the National Football League Players Association will host their 10th annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. Newberry College football fans will see a familiar face among the ranks of the 112 prospects on the field as senior defensive back Anthony Blue (Dillon) has been extended an invitation to the game by the NFLPA.
The game, scheduled for January 29, 2022, while take place in the historic Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, Calif. Marvin Lewis and Jeff Fisher have been selected to lead the National and American teams and will air live on NFL Network.
Blue will be the second member of the Newberry squad to be invited to this prestigious event in its history; he joins Corey Washington, a stand-out receiver for the Wolves from 2013-2014.
Founded in 2012, the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl gives prospective players the best opportunity to showcase their talents to potential employers and fans. Nearly 200 scouts, player personnel staff, general managers and head coaches from all 32 NFL teams are expected be in attendance to watch live practices, conduct player interviews and review tape.
Blue has been a highlight-reel defensive back for the Wolves over the past four seasons, recording 34 defended passes, a career record for the squad while also recording seven interceptions, including four just this season. He has recorded 179 tackles including 13 tackles for loss, responsible for 31 lost yards.
He currently ranks 10th in the country among NCAA Division II athletes in passes defended with 1.5 per game while also sitting currently in the 37th spot in interceptions per game. He has helped the defense to a 21st national ranking in passing yards allowed, averaging just 171.4 yards allowed per game, a statistic that they currently leads the South Atlantic Conference. The team also leads the conference in scoring defense, allowing just 15.6 points per game, a mark that has them currently ranked 14th in the country.