Assigned to defense, he knew nothing of positions and roles, so he chased the ball all over the field. When he was AWOL from offseason workouts as a freshman, head coach Chuck Stines tracked down Anyansi at a Kroger. Abdominal surgery cost Anyansi considerable groundwork for his sophomore year, and he wasn't promoted to the varsity until late in the schedule. He nearly didn't make it at all. One look at the mediocre math grade, and Ikebudu decided his son was history as a player.
Sports is secondary.
Stines appealed to Ikebudu, saying that Anyansi's absence would disrupt the team, and he vowed to monitor his math progress. With prodding from Louisa, Ikebudu relented. In Anyansi's junior year, college talent hunters checking out teammates noticed No. 44 at linebacker, raw and fast and mean, separating ball carriers from their helmets. Stines began fielding inquiries. Most football players would rather hear from Bowden or Fulmer than from the Publishers Clearinghouse sweepstakes.