#53 Anthony Waters | LB
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Position: LB College: Clemson Height: 6-3 Weight: 238 Age: 24 Experience: 2nd NFL Season Acquired: Draft '07 Hometown: Lake View, S.C. |
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Career StatsWhen the Chargers drafted linebacker Anthony Waters in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft, they knew they’d have to be patient. During the first game of his senior season at Clemson, Waters suffered a potentially career-ending knee injury and was still working his way back when the Chargers selected him.
Waters was inactive for all 16 games during his rookie season, but now that he’s returned to full strength, the Chargers believe he’s ready to contribute. Waters enters his second NFL season carrying high expectations for himself and from his teammates.
Overcoming the odds is nothing new for Waters. He fought through a tough upbringing, one in which he was raised in a house with eight brothers and sisters by a single-parent, his mother Lynette, and one that also saw two of his older brothers spend time in jail. His oldest brother is still incarcerated and facing a potential life sentence. Lynette works at Anthony’s alma mater, Lake View High School, and even with nine children, still finds time to volunteer at a local nursing home.
Yet none of these factors prevented Anthony from reaching his goals of becoming the first member of the Waters family to graduate from college and to play in the NFL. He achieved both. In December of 2006, he walked across the stage at Clemson’s Littlejohn Coliseum to accept his degree in sports management and four months later he was drafted by the Chargers. To earn his degree, one of the last things Waters had to do was complete a 400-hour internship in the Tigers’ sports information department.
While he was sidelined during his senior season, Waters was still considered one of the team’s leaders. The coaching staff allowed him to travel with the team and his teammates voted him a team captain. The coaching staff also allowed him to dress out for the team’s final home game of the season against in-state rival South Carolina so that Waters could touch Howard’s Rock one last time and then make a final walk down “The Hill” and into Clemson’s Memorial Stadium with his teammates.
Waters now shares his success story with others. He spends time counseling local youth and helping them work to achieve the same goals that he set for himself. Anthony regularly returns to his hometown of Lake View, South Carolina (pop. 800) where he speaks to children of all ages in the town’s elementary, middle and high schools. The former senior class president at LakeView High credits several of his former coaches for helping him steer clear of trouble. They include his former football coach and Clemson alum, Jewell McLaurin; the school’s baseball coach, Kip Herlong, as well as assistant football coaches Kenny Rogers and Daryl King. And while he was at Clemson, Anthony also helped a family member in need, bringing his younger brother, Henri, to live with him at school at a time when he was beginning to slip into trouble back home. Waters is also very close with the Clemson fans. Before his senior season was set to begin, Waters made a surprise visit to the home of a Tigers fan who suffers from Downs Syndrome and presented the man with one of his old Clemson game jerseys.
TRANSACTION HISTORY: Third-round choice (96) in NFL Draft, April 28, 2007.
COLLEGE: Sat out almost entire senior season after injuring knee in third quarter of season opener against Florida Atlantic...honorable mention All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection as junior after leading team with 109 tackles and leading ACC with 74 solo stops...recipient of team’s Solid Rock Award in 2005, given by coaches to squad’s outstanding linebacker...during junior season, named team’s player of game following outings vs. Maryland, N.C. State and Duke...redshirted in 2002...played at Clemson from 2002-06...graduated in December 2006 with degree in sports management.
PERSONAL: Born in Dillon, South Carolina...Offensive Player of Year and all-state selection as senior at Lake View High School...saw time as prep at LB, RB, DE, WR and punter...as senior, scored 27 total touchdowns and led team in rushing, receiving and tackles.
