Anthony Donkoh will live out Division I dream at Penn State
ALDIE, Va. (BVM) — Anthony Donkoh has molded himself into one of the very best players in the state of Virginia at Lightridge High School. ranks him as the No. 18 interior offensive lineman in the country.
But before he grew into his 6-foot-5, 310-pound frame, he was just a kid waiting for his seventh birthday. This was the age he needed to be for his parents to let him try football.
鈥淎s soon as I got fitted with all the pads, I was so hype when I got home,鈥� Donkoh said. 鈥淚 was so excited.鈥�
When he first got out there, Donkoh admitted that it may have been obvious that it was his first year playing. But despite his play, his coach at the time made a point to acknowledge Donkoh鈥檚 hard work at the team鈥檚 trophy giveaway.
He praised his dedication to the game which ultimately made him better as the season went along. For Donkoh, the moment had a lasting impact.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 what fueled me for the next season,鈥� Donkoh said. 鈥淓ver since then, I鈥檝e always strived to be great.鈥�
Year after year of going through seasons with this mindset has turned Donkoh into the player he is today.
In January he committed to Penn State and signed with the school on Dec. 21.
110% COMMITTED
— Anthony Donkoh (@donkoh_anthony)
鈥淲hen I was talking to them, they reached out every week, always asking how I was doing and how my family was doing,鈥� Donkoh said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not only the athlete they鈥檙e trying to be invested in, it鈥檚 the whole family.鈥�
Penn State commit Anthony Donkoh () finishes this rep with James Franklin looking on, then gets some love from OL coach Phil Trautwein.
— Tyler Donohue (@TDsTake)
While Donkoh always had the self-belief that he could get to where he wanted to be, it was a wake-up call for him whenever he did not travel with the varsity team as a freshman. Then leading into the back end of his first academic year of high school, the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
But he used that as an opportunity to better himself. And when he got back on the football field, it showed.
鈥淥nce the season rolled around, I just felt good,鈥� Donkoh said. 鈥淚 saw some of my friends were suffering while we were at practice. They didn鈥檛 adjust as quickly as I did to game speed.鈥�
Donkoh started gaining traction on the recruiting trail once he got some run and received multiple full-ride scholarships, something he views as his biggest accomplishment to date.
鈥淣ot a lot of people who dream or who have dreamt about going DI get the opportunity to play for a Division I school,鈥� Donkoh said.聽
While Donkoh cannot wait to get on the field for the Nittany Lions and further his aspirations to make it to the NFL, his number one goal comes in the classroom: getting his mechanical engineering degree.
