Chee Anyanwu - Richmond's Next Great Safety
Richmond has had a lot of talent at the safety position, with the most recent star being All-American David Jones. On September 26, Chee Anyanwu, 6-2 190lb. safety from Buford HS out of Buford, GA pledged to continue the tradition of excellence.
Getting "It"
Anyanwu has had a rough senior year. He tore his hamstring after his second game, missed the next few and then had it pop in practice, leading to an additional setback. Just like that, football can be taken away, which is why Anyanwu is so focused on his academics. From exchanging emails, it is immediately evident that Anyanwu gets "It." Richmond is not for everyone; rather than shying away from UR's academic rigor, Anyanwu embraces it, desiring to majoring in business with a finance minor.
"I chose Richmond because the education is top of the line, and the football is great. I thought of it as a business decision, because when it's all said and done and football is over, it's vital to have a degree from a prestigious school and an education that would prepare me for the real world post-college. I could've easily gone to a FBS school just to get on ESPN each week, but when football is done the degree doesn't hold as much weight as one from a better school. Richmond just so happened to offer me all of these things."
Sparky Woods first touched base with Anyanwu in June and quickly formed a relationship. With Anyanwu's injury, he learned which coaches cared for him as a person and Woods was constantly following up. "Richmond was most persistent in contacting me and checking up on me, which is why I decided to take time out and visit." Woods informed Anyanwu that he was looking at him to follow in Jones' footsteps at safety. Looking at his film, there's no doubt he has the talent to do so.
His opening clip demonstrates his quick instincts and efficient motion, something his Buford coaching staff has emphasized. Anyanwu is from a winning program, winning 7 of the last 9 state championships. Other clips demonstrate his ability to be physical in supporting the run and his ability to play under control while playing at speed.
With a winning program, his physical and mental attributes and impressive film, Anyanwu had a lot of suitors to choose from. "Previous to visiting Richmond, I'd visited Georgia Tech, Duke, and Wake Forest, yet Richmond made me leave with a great feeling. The campus was laid-back, with all of the colleges being extremely nice. I felt very wanted there. I met all of the coaches, some coaches wives and kids, even Coach Woods's granddaughter. To make things even better, I met the athletic director and the president of the university." Ultimately, that full-court press during his visit to watch the Spiders beat Colgate helped him choose Richmond over FBS programs, including Ohio, Miami (OH), Charlotte and Middle Tennessee State.
Anyanwu emphasized his attention to detail and focus on discipline as a couple of things that he hopes to bring to The Brickhouse. With his attitude and skills, Richmond fans will likely get to see him on the field sooner rather than later.