Army Deac
10/1/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
This article was originally published in the Sept. 20 edition of Kickoff, the official gameday magazine of Wake Forest football.
By Stacy Hicklin
Saluting the American flag and listening to the National Anthem play before every Wake Forest football game isn't just a part of the pre-game formality to Anthony Wooding, Jr.
For Wooding, the anthem and the flag represent a way of life for his family and a service to country that he sees in his own future as well.
Wooding's introduction into military life began at birth. The senior free safety was born at Fort Benning in Columbus, Ga. after his parents met serving in the Army in Korea. His mother worked with security forces and his father spent his time in telecommunications.
Because his parents were both enlisted, shortly after birth, Wooding moved to Folkston, Ga. to live with his mother's great aunt Julia Edwards. There was a time in his life, where Wooding's father, stepmother, brother and cousin were all serving overseas.
However, Wooding's mother finished her time in the military around the time he was five years old. He and his mother moved in across the street from Edwards and settled into life in the small town on the Florida/Georgia border.
Wooding remembers some of his most prized childhood possessions being dog tag necklaces and Army clothing sent from afar. But his most special gift from his parents' service came this past spring.
"At dinner after our final scrimmage, my dad gave me his bronze star, which he earned for a heroic act during service," Wooding said. "It was a really big moment for me. My dad told me I was his hero. It was very emotional."
Overcoming Obstacles
Wooding's path to Wake Forest wasn't especially easy. He didn't come out of high school as a major college recruit.
"I think if he had one more year of high school, schools around the country would have been all over him," said Rich McWhorter, Wooding's high school coach at Charlton County. "Coaches couldn't get past him being a few inches too short and 20 pounds too light."
Wooding watched his brother DeVarro Greaves play at Purdue and dreamt of doing the same, except the scholarship offer never happened. But he did get one from the Air Force Academy.
"I thought the Air Force package sounded like a good deal," Wooding said. "I would get to play football, but also have a job after I graduated. And my parents were excited about it."
Wooding didn't, however, go directly to the Academy. Instead, the Air Force sent him to Air Force Prep School -- its way of redshirting him. Wooding left his family for the first time in his life and went through three weeks of basic training. His days started at 4 a.m. and consisted of running and more running in full combat gear.
A year later, he entered the academy and went through six more weeks of basic training. Football conditioning was never a big deal to him again.
Wooding started 15 games for the Air Force during the next two seasons. He totaled 87 tackles with two interceptions and compiled an impressive highlight reel.
Path to Wake Forest
After two seasons in Colorado Springs, he returned to Folkston to figure out his next step and enlisted the help of McWhorter to find a new school.
At the same time, his cousin Wendell Dunn, who lived in Miami, was being recruited by Wake Forest. He encouraged his cousin to look at the Demon Deacons as well.
Coincidentally, a number of connections existed between the Wake Forest and Air Force coaching staffs. Jim Grobe, Wake's coach at the time, had been an assistant for more than a decade at the Air Force and two members of the Falcons' coaching staff had previously worked for Grobe at Wake Forest.
Wooding's former coaches at Air Force vouched for him, explained his situation to Grobe and made it known that Wooding possessed great character.
"I guess everything happens for a reason," Wooding said. "I was grateful to have gotten a second chance. I actually felt like I was going to college for the first time. It was strange being able to do things like eat off campus or eat by myself."
The No-Fly Zone
Wooding sat out the first two games of the 2013 season while being cleared by the NCAA, but played in 10 games and started the final four for the Deacons. He amassed 39 tackles while playing free safety in addition to playing special teams. After the season, Wooding's situation changed yet again as Grobe resigned.
Wooding wasn't sure where he'd fit in with the next staff, but new defensive coordinator Mike Elko quickly saw potential in the senior safety. Elko implemented a three-man rotation at strong and free safety with Wooding, Ryan Janvion and Thomas Brown.
"He's a very heady player, certainly our most experienced guy back there from an age standpoint -- he's played a lot of football," Elko said. "He's very quiet in his demeanor, but handles his business and does what he needs to do out there on the field."
Wooding turned in 12 tackles in Wake's first game of the season and added three more in the Deacons' win against Gardner-Webb. He loves being part of the unit that has nicknamed itself the "No Fly Zone" and says being the last line of defense is thrilling.
"He has great instincts, great ball skills and field awareness," Janvion said. "He's good in the cover game and can make plays in the air."
Wooding aims to become an All-ACC player this season and make at least one impact play each game. He's working on his hip action, speed and being a forceful tackler in hope of playing football after college. If that doesn't work out, he has a plan in place.
"I would like to go back to the military to be an officer," Wooding said. "I'd go into ROTC or attend Officer Training School and do something with computer engineering."
