Possibilities endless for Ross' Vann as he makes another shift to next level at Concordia

Dustin Patten was jealous.

Every Fremont Ross position group had a chance to work with Anthony Vann, Patten wanted his turn. Always a safety at heart, coach Chad Long didn't need his arm twisted.

Still, Vann's transition was first met with laughter. If you know Vann, you knew he'd flip that narrative.

He finished with 12 interceptions as a two-year starter, third all-time in program history. He heads to NAIA Concordia University in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

"I couldn't backpedal the way Patten wanted," he said. "At first, it was laughs and jokes. The next year, I was a DB all the time. I grinded all summer. Coach Long taught me to read eyes and cover the whole field. I was excited for a new challenge.

"I'd played everything else. That far away, can I come and tackle? It was only unfamiliarity."

Vann was mainly a receiver as a freshman. He played a little safety and mostly receiver the next season.

"In a humble way, I've always known I could do great things," he said. "It was instilled there was nothing I couldn't do if I try my hardest. Think big and work the best. You never know the magnitude you'll be blessed, but I knew something great was coming if I worked.

"I always thank God. It makes me smile. With hard work, I'm able to do those things."

Long sees it the same way.

"Talk about kids you root for and who you want to succeed, Boogie has been the face of Fremont athletics in multiple sports," he said. "Boogie has advantages, he's 6-2, 190 pounds. He's ready. I've seen his vision at DB.

"We moved him to safety because of his range hash to hash. He likes to hit."

Vann had two interceptions and five catches for 138 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown reception from Kaden Holmes in a home victory over Sandusky as a junior. The Charles Woodson statue was blessed by a visit from its namesake.

Woodson thought Vann had another interception, right in front of Woodson on the sideline. Vann tries to adhere to Woodson's advice to "see ball and get ball."

"The atmosphere was so electric," Vann said. "You walked out and felt the whole field rumbling. I was looking through my facemask at Woodson right there, it makes me remember where I came from. Him looking at me, I'm a Fremont kid.

"He's a legend around the world. The whole team was locked in, we felt the support and love."

Woodson was again surely proud when Vann swiped three more passes in a win over Sandusky as a senior.

"I wasn't groomed to be a DB as a young kid," Vann said. "I played lineman in middle school. Running back, receiver, quarterback. Tight end. Linebacker. Defensive end. Punter. I've played everything, but not DB. I'd played joker linebacker outside, bandit.

"To come in with three interceptions, and some receiving yards, it opened my mind it's not impossible. I like to catch touchdowns. I was put in position to succeed and doors opened. I became more of a leader. I did the hard work, I wasn't going to fail.

"I progressed to that game and it lit a fire."

Vann was always ready physically, best evidenced by his 12 touchdown receptions to establish a single-season program record as a sophomore.

"Since middle school, the physical part wasn't a struggle," he said. "Freshman year I needed to work, but it came easy. Being a student of the game and sitting down, 'We won, but how could I have done better or gave somebody else a key.

"Being able to be calm through adversity. I've been a leader, being that senior the spotlight was right in my face. There was no hiding. 'I'm wrong or how do we fix it.' The mental journey was the biggest key to becoming more successful."

He finished with 106 receptions, tied for second in a career for the program. His 17 touchdowns are tied for second and his 1,467 yards are third.

"More than anything, it opens doors," he said. "I chose Concordia, they know exactly what they're getting. I'm versatile. Anything you needed, I'd have done it in high school. They know the mentality. The game intrigues me.

"I don't want to be flashy, that goes with the territory. I just want to be my best and not get pushed over. It's opportunity. I'm going as a DB, you might find me breaking more touchdown records. You never know, the possibilities are endless."

Indeed, Vann is good at juggling. He earned 11 letters and it would be 12 if not for the pandemic canceling track as a freshman.

He also plays basketball.

"It shows my consistency and determination," he said.

It also allowed him to demonstrated his love for Fremont.

"My family taught me it's not about trying to be a leader, it's about people following you," he said. "I'm a Vann, it's expected. There's a standard in my house. My leadership comes from how I was brought up. I don't think about being a leader.

"It's representing God and my family. It becomes contagious. My love for Fremont comes from the guys under me, it's possible to do the things they tell you you can't. It comes from having a foundation and support. My love and the things I do and the letters, it's about doing my best every time.

"The F on my heart is for the younger kids."

Vann might have enjoyed being a Little Giant more than playing games.

"Being together, through it all," he said. "I look back at freshman year, we were 1-9. I was brand new to the scheme of everything. The next year, everyone was included and working hard."

Vann plans to be an anesthesiologist.

"The biggest reason I'm excited is because of the opportunity for my career, setting me up for adult life," he said. "That was my biggest goal with recruitment. When I went there it was always love. The scenery, the players, the coaches' mindset.

"It's like home, they care about me. The mentality of everyone there, 85 percent of the students are athletes. I'll be surrounded by people of a like mind and aligned with my faith."

Vann can count the number of times he's missed Sunday service on one hand. His grandfather, Alfonzo Vann Sr., owns New Revelations in Fremont.

"I can leave home and have that net, that peace," he said. "Train a child the way he should go and when he is old he will never depart from it. Proverbs 22:6. I had that foundation."

Vann also considered Marion University in Indianapolis and preferred walk-on status at Youngstown.

"The message to younger kids, it's kind of crazy, we live in Fremont and historically we have good athletes," he said. "My sophomore year I set a path. I took pre-calc as a junior. I applaud the staff. They did a lot to build exposure for us to get to the next level mentally and physically.

"We've had a lot of athletes who could have done it, but they helped us get better and reached out to coaches. Praise to Alysha Nye. She was a vital part. We won't be a redshirt because we don't have the requirements.

"Before you know it, so many kids will go to play sports at the next level from Fremont."

Vann hopes to set an example at Concordia as well.

"While I'm here [Fremont], I want to continue to get better," he said. "I want to play football as long as I can. Long term, I want to work so hard I can retire by 50. It's something I will definitely do. You don't work, you don't eat.

"Everyone should get a chance to enjoy themselves."

mhorn@gannett.com

419-307-4892

Twitter: @MatthewHornNH

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Ross' Anthony Vann comfortable all over football field