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Abeid flashes onto scene at Saint Francis
LORETTO, PA
A few months ago, Anthony Abeid’s present was a lot more unexpected than his future.
He entered his freshman year at Saint Francis, in Loretto, Pa., ready to pound out a year on the football scout team, with a slight chance to get some varsity looks.
“I worked as hard as I could to put myself in a position to get on the field,” said the 2012 Youngstown Christian graduate. “At the beginning of the season I wasn’t being looked at as a key player on the team. Injuries happened and I was able to step up. I had chances and I took advantage of them.”
Injuries to Kyle Harbridge and Khairi Dickson allowed Abeid to grow up, take a greater role and make an impact much earlier than he expected.
He saw his first action in the third game of the season, a 57-23 win over Morehead State, and his breakout game was three weeks later in a 10-3 win over Robert Morris. Abeid scored the game’s only touchdown — his first college TD.
“We started to run a wildcat and they would throw me out at wide receiver,” Abeid said. “The quarterback was either running it every time or they were pitching it to me. A bit later, we called a pass play and I was confused. I asked another receiver, ‘What do I do? We never ran this.’
“He told me just to run a deep post, I beat the cornerback and the QB hit me with a 55-yard touchdown reception.”
It was the first time that Saint Francis implemented a wildcat offense. The Red Flashes usually run a spread with a pistol backfield. At YCS, Abeid was used to the spread, but with a Maryland power-I.
“Up here at Saint Francis, it’s more of a pro style offense and not a ‘We’re coming right at you, we’re going to put you on the ground’ offense like in high school,” Abeid said.
Saint Francis finished with a 5-6 record and Abeid ran for 258 yards, recorded 122 receiving yards, completed a pass for 21 yards and had 219 return yards. It earned him three Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week honors and the NEC’s Rookie of the Year award.
“I didn’t expect to be rookie of the year,” Abeid said. “I just kept grinding and pushing through. What made me feel great is that the coaches believed I should get the award. They thought I earned it and said I played great for them. That made me feel more confident going into next year.”
Abeid likely has secured the starting running back spot for 2013.
“I see myself as being another impact player on the team next year,” he said. “I need to maintain my ability and my level of play in my coaches’ eyes — not giving up the position to anybody. I’ve worked very hard to get to where I am now. I’m ready to outwork everybody to keep this position.”
As for the future, beyond the next three years and his football playing days, Abeid has that all mapped out.
He’s a nursing major.
“Yeah,” he says, proudly. “I’m the only football player.”
And with it comes a fair share of teasing.
“It happens here and there,” Abeid said, “but then I explain that as soon as I break out of college that chances are I’ll get a job offer in a highly rewarding career.”