Outspoken Anumgba ready to rise up for Paint Branch

Paint Branch wide receiver Earvin Anumgba has been described as a "miniature Terrell Owens" for his ability to catch any pass thrown in his direction. Turns out Anumgba may have even more in common with T.O. than that -- namely his mouth. About the only thing moving faster than the 6-foot, 185-pound junior wide receiver's feet is his tongue.

Anumgba on his receiving skills:

"I might not be the fastest receiver out there, but I'm a player. Get me the ball and I'm going to catch it."

On his defensive back skills:

"I'm not scared of receivers, even if they're faster than me. I'm going to get up, be physical and shut them down. I really don't care what they think. They can't beat me. No one can."

On his expectations next year:

"I'm expecting 55 catches, 12 touchdowns and over 1,000 yards. Last year I was hurt the first three games and I wasn't the No. 1 target. Next year will be different. I'm going to be one of the top guys."

On finally being the No. 1 receiver:

"For two years I've waited behind some other receivers at Paint Branch. I'm tired of being in someone else's shadow."

On his competition with fellow receiver Ivan Tagoe, who will graduate this year:

"We're friends but we always compete. I tell him all the time, if I had as many chances as he did I would have had even more catches and touchdowns then him."

That concludes this reading from the Book of Anumgba.

In the media world, quotes like the ones above are pure Gospel. Take one snippet, jack it up to 72-point font and stick it in a headline. Imagine this dandy in Friday morning's Gazette: ANUMGBA CALLS OUT OPPOSING WR'S: 'THEY CAN'T BEAT ME. NO ONE CAN.'

So it's fairly obvious Anumgba can talk the talk. But can he walk the walk?

Last year he caught 11 passes for 273 yards and five touchdowns to go along with three interceptions and around 50 tackles.

Not bad for a guy who missed three games and played second fiddle to Tagoe. But "not bad" isn't good enough. For Paint Branch to go further than the regional finals next year, Anumgba is going to have to replace Tagoe (54 catches, 11 touchdowns).

"Next year he's our guy," said Paint Branch coach Mike Nesmith. "For us to compete for a state championship, he has to be a star. We're going to be a young team next year, and he's going to have to carry the flag."

Based purely on talent, Anumgba (pronounced A-noom-geh-bah) has the potential to be an elite skill player. Put him near the end zone, throw up an alley-oop pass and watch his hands devour that ball like a kid left alone with a chocolate cake.

"He does it effortlessly," Nesmith said. "He can go up in traffic with people on his back and make the special, one-handed types of catches. He's only six feet but he plays like he's 6-3."

At 6-0, 185, he's still a matchup nightmare. When he's not out-muscling and out-leaping cornerbacks on offense, Anumgba is bullying smaller wide receivers on defense. Although he plays cornerback, he has the mind-set of a hard-hitting safety. When the Paint Branch defense lines up in a Cover-2, Anumgba creeps towards the line of scrimmage, baiting the opposition to run at him.

"I'm more of a hitting type corner; I'll come up in run support and knock people out," Anumgba said. "I have fun doing that."

Anumgba did play safety his sophomore year, when he started every game and dominated the position. He only switched to corner due to depth issues. Nesmith admits Anumgba's future is at safety, where his less-than-ideal speed will not be a factor and his penchant for big hits will be exemplified.

Granted, Anumgba is still a terrific cover corner.

"I can count on one hand the amount of passes completed on him," Nesmith said. "I can see him matching up with taller wide receivers at the next level."

In last year's Clarksburg game, Anumgba helped shut down standout Coyotes quarterback Andrew Veith. Veith completed just 8 of 20 passes for one touchdown and one interception. The pick belonged to Anumgba.

"Before the game Andrew Veith was being hyped up like crazy, so it felt pretty good to step in and pick off his pass," Anumgba said. "When I ran the pick back, he was on the ground because he got hit. I ran towards him and then jumped over him. The photographers even caught a picture of me."

That about says it all - Earvin Anumgba is so good he can pose for pictures mid-play.

About the only drawback in Anumgba's development - besides honing his footwork, route running and precision -- is his speed. He runs a 4.7 in the 40-yard dash, which is on the high end for wide receivers and corners. But coaches and opponents aren't about to call Anumgba slow. Game speed is much more telling than track times.

Take, for instance, the Magruder game last year. Early on in a scoreless tie, Paint Branch took over on their own 30-yard line. Quarterback Xavier Staley took a quick three-step drop and looked for Anumgba on a slant. Anumgba came open over the middle, snared the throw, faked out a defender and sped 70 yards for a touchdown. The defensive backs were left diving at his ankles.

"We needed something to get us going," Anumgba said. "I caught that screen and it gave us momentum. It woke everyone up."

That's an ironic statement considering just three years ago Anumgba was the one who needed waking. Before high school, Anumgba was an admitted malcontent who had anger issues stemming from home and school.

He lived with his mother and three younger siblings, but his father wasn't a part of his life. Although his dad encouraged him to play football from time to time, Anumgba said he "was never there for me." Without a staunch father figure for guidance, Anumgba rebelled.

"I used to do dumb things like fight people and skip school," Anumgba said. "I just didn't care about anything."

Nesmith recalls a volatile ninth grader who had the personality of a firecracker that exploded at intermittent and unexpected intervals. But as Anumgba became more involved with football, he began to change. Anumgba's team became his surrogate father. He credits Nesmith and the coaching staff for giving him structure, guidance and goals. By his sophomore year he was a different person.

"He recognizes his faults and he accepts criticisms," Nesmith said. "I wouldn't have said that as a ninth grader. He had some problems in school and at home. But when he realized he could be a scholarship player and what that meant, he really learned how to handle himself."

In one year, Anumgba became calmer and more mature. The fighting stopped; he attended class regularly.

At home, he became a father figure for his three younger siblings. His mother works all day to support the family, leaving Anumgba to care for his brothers and sisters.

"I'm a better person now," Anumgba admits. "Paint Branch changed my life."

So where does he go from here? Does Earvin Anumgba, outward eccentric and closet goody-goody, have a chance to earn a scholarship to play in college?

Apparently so. Maryland assistant Dave Sollazzo has already talked to Nesmith about him. Rutgers and Pittsburgh are reportedly interested as well.

"I feel I can play DI football anywhere," said Anumgba, who will never be accused of lacking an ego. "I'm not expecting anything less."