WASHINGTON (November 1, 2019) - In a season filled with unfulfilled expectations and disappointments, Kyle Anthony has proved to be the one constant for Howard football. While the team has struggled to a 1-7 record entering the North Carolina Central game, Anthony has managed to maintain his consistent level of excellence despite the challenges.

The senior wide receiver from Miramar, Fla., can finish his career as the all-time leading receiver in receptions in a career at Howard and also to finish among the Top 10 in MEAC history.

Anthony now has 178 receptions and needs just seven more to break the school record of 184 held by Gary "Flea" Harrell from 1990-93. He needs eight to move up to eighth all-time on the MEAC list for career receptions.

It all started when Anthony came to Howard in 2016 under then head coach Harrell.  Despite being recruited by some mid-majors, Anthony made Howard University his choice.

"The interesting thing was that my family had all attended schools in the state of Florida, so I would be the first in the family to attend school out of state," said Anthony, a marketing major. "There was something about the feel and comfort zone that I got when I visited Howard and the conversation I had with Coach Flea. He told me in the interview that I could be special here. I knew that he was from Florida (Miami) and that he had done some special things while he was here. That, and all the other things that the University had to offer, convinced me that this was the place where I wanted to spend my next four years."

Harrell was a member of the 1993 team that finished 11-0 on the season and captured the Black National championship.

Harrell offers his perspective on the recruitment of Anthony.

"My assistant coach, BT Sherman, spent time in Florida and saw him," said Harrell. "He did not have a great senior season, but there were a lot of things that we saw that we liked. Of course, coming out of high school, they need a lot of work on running routes and getting stronger, but the thing that stood out most was his work ethic."

Despite his impressive preseason, Anthony did not start in the season opener at the University of Maryland, something that he looks back on.

"I was not happy about not starting," he admits. "I was sitting there thinking about it, but then when I went into the game, that all changed. "Anthony went on to catch two TD passes and turn heads. That set the tone as he went on catch 40 passes as a freshman.

From that point on, he developed consistency, grabbing 40 passes again his sophomore year and a career-best 53 his junior season to lead the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference in 2018.

Anthony is the prototypical receiver that is an integral part of a team's passing success. He has the size at 6-3 and 205. He is strong and physical, he runs great routes and he has the ability to outleap smaller defenders for the 50-50 balls.

He greatly benefitted his sophomore and junior seasons from the presence of teammate Jequez Ezzard, a deep threat who led the nation in receiving yards per catch and quarterback Caylin Newton, the MEAC Rookie of the Year in 2017 and last season's conference player of the year.

Ezzard has missed all season with an undisclosed medical condition and Newton decided to enter the transfer portal following the fourth game of the year.

With Ezzard not available and true freshman quarterback Quinton Williams at the helm, defenses have turned their attention almost solely to shutting down Anthony by doubling team him and making sure that he is accounted for on every snap. Yet, it's is a credit to Anthony that he still ranks among the conference leaders in receptions with 44 through eight games. He caught 10 passes for 146 yards and three TDs at Youngstown State and 12 against Hampton.

The key to his consistency has been that he has remained injury free.

"I take the attitude that I am going to work hard, prepare well and take care of my body no matter what the circumstances," says Anthony who has now played for four different quarterbacks, three different receivers coaches and three different head coaches at Howard.

"I spend a lot of time in the offseason on strength and conditioning," explains Anthony of his regimen. " I don't take days off. My mother always stressed that making excuses is not an option." He continues, "As for preparation, I study a lot of film and look for weaknesses and things that I can exploit.

"And, as for taking care of my body, I maintain a regimented diet. I stay away from fried foods, I eat lots of fruits and vegetables and I drink lots of water to stay hydrated."

It has paid off for Anthony as he not missed a game since he arrived on campus and has caught at least one pass in every game.

As for the future, Anthony downplays the record or his prospects for the NFL, for that matter. Instead he talks excitedly about graduating with his degree in marketing this May and exploring various options in the sports industry.

"There are so many opportunities out there when you set out to accomplish your goals. Being at Howard and meeting different people has really helped me focus on future goals and opportunities. Harrell, who is now running backs coach at Alabama State, follows Anthony's push toward the record and is admittedly one of his biggest fans.

"I can't think of a better person to set a record," says Harrell, who himself owns a degree in marketing from Howard. "It was a blessing for me to have been able to recruit him and coach him and to now see him make his place in HU history."

As his college career comes to a close, how does Anthony reflect on how he would like to be remembered.

"The records and statistics are all fine but what I would want be to be recognized for most for is my leadership on and off the field and for me to be recognized as someone who accomplished through a good work ethic."