MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - February 8, 2007, (Davenport, IA) – The Quad City Steamwheelers announced today that the arenafootball2 league has assigned Thomas Anthony, a Bettendorf native and former Augustana Viking, to the roster.

“I think Thomas is one of the better receivers in the league,” says head coach Sean Ponder. “He did a great job when he played against us last time. We are expecting the same thing this year.”

Last season Anthony joined the Albany Pioneers midway through the season and played eight games. He finished the season with a team-high 883 yards and 19 touchdowns. In his first game with the Pioneers, at Quad City, he tore the Steamwheelers defense apart as he recorded 107 yards and three touchdowns on seven receptions.

Prior to playing with Pioneers, Anthony played three seasons for the Vikings as a wide receiver and a cornerback. The 6-foot-0, 190 pound athlete tallied 1005 yards and 10 touchdowns on 45 receptions during his career. His biggest contributions came on the defense side of the ball where he registered 56 total tackles. His best defensive season was his senior year when he notched a NCAA Division III high 13 interceptions, while recording 33 solo tackles.

In 2005 the local product was named 1^st Team NCAA Division III by D3football.com, “Defensive Player of the Year” in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin and 1^st Team All-Conference. He also finished seventh in the NCAA Division III in passes defended averaging 1.80 per game.

The Pleasant Valley graduate lettered twice in football and earned All-Conference and All-State honors his senior year. His brother, Chris Anthony played for the Steamwheelers in 2002 and is currently a member of the AFL’s New York Dragons.