Canyon del Oro cornerback Raife Anthony made his commitment today to Aurora (Ill.) University, an NCAA Division III school coached by former NFL receiver Don Beebe.
Beebe was the first NFL player to play in six Super Bowls — four with the Buffalo Bills and two with the Green Bay Packers, one of which the Packers won. He holds numerous records, including Buffalo’s record for most touchdowns in a game (four).
“After talking to Coach Don Beebe and hearing that we will be fighting for a national championship all 4 years, I was hooked,” Anthony said. “It may not be a D1 school but I will be playing at the highest level and against the best competition in Division 3 football. I’m ready to take the challenge and become great.”
In two of CDO’s games this season against Cienega and Ironwood Ridge, Anthony had a blocked field goal, stopped a receiver on a crucial fourth-down play late in the game, returned an interception for a touchdown and recovered a fumble.
“During my recruiting trip, I was always looking for a place that I knew I could call home. When I stepped on campus at Aurora I knew instantly that I could spend the next four years of my life there if not longer,” Anthony said.
Anthony is the 30th Southern Arizona Class of 2021 to make a commit or sign with a college. Here is a list:
- Former Salpointe OT Jonah Miller on May 18 to Oregon. He signed on Dec. 16.
- CDO RB Stevie Rocker on July 16 to Arizona. He signed on Dec. 16.
- Ironwood Ridge QB Chase Cassel on Sept. 23 to St. Norbert. He signed on Feb. 3.
- Nogales LB Rene R. Urias Jr. on Oct. 1 to Grinnell
- Cienega QB Ryan Swoger on Oct. 23 to South Dakota State. He signed on Dec. 16.
- Walden Grove LB Sebastian Adamski on Nov. 16 to Drake. He signed on Dec. 16.
- Cienega C Andrew Husfelt on Nov. 19 to Washburn. He signed on Feb. 3.
- Ironwood Ridge FS Dylan Cook on Nov. 24 to Morehead State
- Walden Grove WR Alex Culbertson on Nov. 24 to Simpson
- Catalina Foothills TE Garrick Krautz on Dec. 9 to Morehead State.
- Cienega SS Sebastian Felix on Dec. 16 to Drake. He signed on Feb. 3.
- Cienega LB Isaiah Webb on Dec. 18 to Western New Mexico. He signed on Feb. 3.
- Cienega DT Hunter Schlagel on Dec. 18 to Western New Mexico. He signed on Feb. 3.
- Buena OT Dominic Avant on Jan. 19 to Sioux Falls. He signed on Feb. 3.
- Pusch Ridge RB/DB Evan Lovett on Jan. 19 to Minot (N.D.) State. He signed on Feb. 3.
- Cienega WR/DB Charles Hamm III on Jan. 19 to Jamestown. He signed on Feb. 3.
- Buena RB Isaac Benoit on Jan. 20 to Sioux Falls. He signed on Feb. 3.
- Salpointe TE Fernando Torres on Jan. 22 to St. Olaf.
- Cienega RB Gabe Levy on Jan. 23 to Mary. He signed on Feb. 3.
- Nogales WR Ricky Hanlan on Jan. 27 to Western New Mexico. He signed on Feb. 3.
- Cienega LB Josiah Flores on Feb. 2 to Fort Lewis. He signed on Feb. 3.
- Cienega S/RB C.J. Flores on Feb. 3 to NAU. He signed on Feb. 3.
- Empire ATH Yani Brown on Feb. 3 to Arizona Christian.
- Tucson WR/S Daniel Becerra on Feb. 3 to Chadron (Neb.) State.
- Sahuaro WR/S Damon Robledo on Feb. 3 to Concordia (Chicago). He signed on Feb. 3.
- Desert View LB Anton Jamero on Feb. 4 to Ripon.
- Rincon/University WR/S Steven Geiger on Feb. 4 to Lawrence. He signed on Feb. 4.
- Desert View RB Jacob Ramirez on Feb. 11 to to Lyon.
- Salpointe RB David Cordero on Feb. 15 to Ottawa. He signed on Feb. 15.
- CDO CB Raife Anthony on Feb. 16 to Aurora.
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon.