Though he has yet to enter his sophomore season of football, Brentwood (Tenn.) Brentwood Academy cornerback Aaquil Anoor is not unfamiliar with the bright lights and pressures of big time football. As a freshman, Anoor started on one of the best and most talented teams in the state at Brentwood Academy, playing in some big games and big atmospheres.
Last weekend Anoor had a different kind of spotlight on him. At the Vanderbilt prospect camp on Sunday, Anoor was singled out along with current Vanderbilt commit Darrius Sims and a handful of other elite defenders to work out separately from the rest of the group with Vanderbilt defensive coordinator Bob Shoop.
Clearly Anoor impressed Shoop and the other Vanderbilt coaches because not long after the camp, he received an offer.
“I was just excited,” Anoor said of hearing the news. “I was happy. It was kind of a surprise but that’s what I went there for. I just wanted to go out there and show what I had. I did real good. I think I could’ve done better but I did good.”
Being the local program, Anoor said that Vanderbilt has been the program that he has most closely followed growing up. Other schools that he’s interested in possibly hearing from along what will be a action-packed three more years of high school include Georgia, Tennessee and Cincinnati.
For now though, Anoor has plenty on his plate as he prepares for his sophomore season under a new coaching staff. Playing opposite, Top100 cornerback Jalen Ramsey, Anoor reeled in two interceptions as a freshman starter. This fall he’s looking for more.
“It’s a lot easier [playing with Ramsey],” he said. “He’s a great cornerback and he always gives me pointers on how to get better. With him on one side, I loved it that teams would go at me more times so I get more chances to get a pick and take it back.”
Anoor is part of what is looking like a loaded defensive backfield in midstate Tennessee for the class of 2015. Along with Anoor, Montgomery Bell Academy cornerback Michael Lacey was also a Vandy camp standout over the weekend as was Ensworth’s Donovan Sheffield. Meanwhile Sheffield’s teammate Rico McGraw – another 2015 prospect – earned offers from Ole Miss and Alabama over the weekend as well.
- Barton Simmons
- National Recruiting Analyst - 247Sports