Air Force's Schlegel to Transfer from Academy
1/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 22, 2003
Air Force sophomore football standout Anthony Schlegel is transferring from the Academy for personal reasons. The Highland Park, Texas, product has begun the out-processing paperwork and will be leaving the Academy this week. Schlegel is unsure about where he'll transfer to at this time.
"The Academy and a career in the military is not for everyone," Schlegel said. "It just comes down to doing what is my best interests. I realized that a career in the military is not what I want right now. It's tough to leave the Academy because of my brothers (teammates) and the coaches, but this is what is best for me right now."
Schlegel became the first Air Force sophomore to earn first-team all-conference honors this season. He finished third in the conference in tackles with 118, including a game-high 12 in the Diamond Walnut San Francisco Bowl where he earned defensive player of the game honors.
Schlegel earned Mountain West Conference defensive player of the week honors earlier this season with a game-high 17 tackles at Utah. He later recorded a career-high 19 tackles against Notre Dame which is the most by a Falcon since 1997. He started the final six games of last season as a freshman and earned The Sporting News third-team freshman All-American honors.
"I hate to see Anthony leave," said Air Force head coach Fisher DeBerry. "This is a big blow to our football team. He possesses a tremendous passion for the game and we're very proud of what he accomplished while he was a part of Falcon football. We have some very, very outstanding players waiting for the opportunity to step in his place. His brothers (teammates) and the coaching staff wish him well."
51 Anthony Schlegel
Inside Linebacker
6-2, 245, So. (C3C)
Highland Park, TX (Highland Park)
2002 (Sophomore) - Started all 13 games ... ranked third in the MWC in tackles with a 9.0 per-game average ... reached 100 tackles (118) for the season at UNLV, becoming the first Falcon since 1997 to record 100 or more stops in a season ... his 118 total tackles were 40 more than anyone else on the AFA team ... led the team with 10.0 tackles for loss for 54 yards ... named defensive player of the game in the Diamond Walnut San Francisco Bowl ... recorded a game-high 12 tackles ... career-high 19 tackles vs. Notre Dame ... also had two tackles for loss for four yards ... his 19 tackles are the most by a Falcon since All-American Chris Gizzi had 20 vs. Fresno State in 1997 ... eight total tackles, two tackles for loss for 15 yards and his first career interception vs. BYU ... 10 tackles vs. Navy ... recorded 17 tackles at Utah ... two tackles for loss for 11 yards and a sack for seven yards ... earned MWC player of the week honors for the second time in his career for his efforts vs. Utah ... six tackles at Cal ... six tackles vs. New Mexico ... team-high five total tackles vs. Northwestern ... selected by his teammates to be a team captain for the 2002 season.
2001 (Freshman) - Played in 10 games, starting six ... started the final six games of the season ... finished the season with 48 total tackles, including 26 unassisted ... four tackles for a loss for nine yards ... one pass breakup, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery ... selected third-team freshman All-American by The Sporting News ... honorable mention all-conference in the media poll ... named MWC defensive player of the week against Utah in the team's final game ... recorded a career-high 11 tackles against the Utes ... made the game-winning tackle on the final play at the two-yard line ... averaged nine tackles per game as a starter ... nine tackles, including six unassisted, against Army ... 10 tackles, six unassisted, with a tackle for loss in the Blue/Silver spring game ... listed No. 1 at inside linebacker after spring drills.
High School - Lettered four years in wrestling and three years in football ... all-district selection twice in football ... third-team all-state and all-area as a senior in football ... won the state heavyweight championship as a junior in wrestling ... also won the AAU national championship as a junior ... finished second in the state as a senior ... high school football coach was Randy Allen.
Personal - Born March 1, 1981 ... attended the Academy's Prep School and played football ... was named the team's defensive player of the year ... son of Roger and Connie Schlegel ... siblings include Terri (33) and Erin (30) ... was also recruited by SMU and Missouri ... holds two world deadlift records for the 19 and under division in the 220 and 240 pound weight classes ... lifted 662 and 672 pounds, respectively.
