GRAMBLING, LA — Christian Anthony, Grambling State University’s All-American defensive lineman who was recently admitted to the North Louisiana Medical Center for chest pains, is headed to his home state of Alabama for a few days after being treated and released by the medical facility in Ruston.
According to head football coach Rod Broadway, Anthony will return to the university next week for classes. He added that Anthony has not been cleared to return to the field, but says he remains a member of the team.
“Our main concern is that he takes care of himself and gets healthy,” explained Broadway.
The 22-year-old football player, who was recently chosen as the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s Pre-season 2010 Defensive Player of the Year, was a dominant defensive force last season. The 6’4″, 275-pound senior from Birmingham, Ala., finished 10th in the league with 76 tackles and third overall in both sacks (8.0) and tackles-for-loss (15.0). As a defensive lineman he led the nation with five interceptions–two of them going for touchdowns. He also led the league in fumbles forced with five, and he recovered three loose balls.
In addition to being named the 2009 SWAC “Defensive Player of the Year,” Anthony was also selected to the first team of the Sports Network FSC squad and to the College Sporting News Fabulous Fifty All-American first unit. He also made the 2009 All-Louisiana first team.
