By: Matt Florjancic '07
CLEVELAND – It is only fitting that when Anthony Kendall was patrolling the secondary for Baldwin Wallace University, his jersey number was one because he was the one undrafted player to go from the NCAA Division III ranks to the National Football League this season.
Kendall signed a free-agent contract with the Tennessee Titans in May after going undrafted, and the second-team All-American defensive back showed both skill and passion during training camp and the preseason. That proved to be enough for him to make the 53-man roster at the start of the regular season.
"It's just really sticking to what I've been doing that has gotten me here, getting here early, doing my treatments, doing my warmups, eating, getting the right sleep, studying plays, and just being ready when my number's called," Kendall said.
"It's just going out there trying to make plays to help the team, having the mindset to put the team first and do whatever I can to help a team win and put in a position to win is really what I stand by.
"I knew that in order to get on the team, I would have to try to find a role, and so, special teams was a place I figured that I was able to try and help the team. Every rep I was in for preseason, I tried to give my 110 percent effort. The coaches saw that, and that's how I was able to get on team."
Although Kendall made Tennessee's roster out of training camp, there were some anxious moments on cutdown day.
However, all of that nervous energy quickly turned to joy after a meeting with Titans head coach Mike Vrabel and general manager Ran Carthon.
"You never know what can happen on days like that, and so, I got a call around 2 and the cutoff was at 3:00 p.m., so I was a little nervous going in there," Kendall recalled. "I went in there, and they sat me down. We had a nice conversation, and they just let me know that I had made the team.
"At that point, it was a real exciting moment. I was blessed to hear them tell me that, and it just felt like my hard work had paid off. But I also knew that there was a lot more work to be done, and it was just the beginning."
By signing with the Titans, Kendall became the first Baldwin Wallace player since Keith Darbut signed with the Cincinnati Bengals and Seattle Seahawks in 2011. Also, Kendall is the first Yellow Jackets alum to play in the regular season since Ed Schenk appeared in three games for the Minnesota Vikings in 1987.
Kendall has played in both of the Titans' first two games this season, totaling three tackles, including two solo stops.
"It's like no other, man," Kendall said of playing in an NFL game. "If I could describe it, if anybody who ever has played football, I wish they could experience that. Being in the Superdome versus the Saints was the loudest I've ever played in stadium-wise.
"The pregame theatrics to the crowd is amazing. It's something that sunk in every time I played, the two games I played in, but it's definitely what everything it's said to be."
Before Kendall was making plays for the Titans, he ended his college career in fine fashion.
During the 2022 season at Baldwin Wallace, Kendall earned second-team All-American honors from the Associated Press, D3football.com and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).
He was an all-region selection from D3football.com, as well as the Ohio Athletic Conference Lee J. Tressel Defensive Back of the Year winner after leading the Yellow Jackets and the entire league with 12 pass breakups. Also, Kendall led BW and was third in the OAC with three interceptions.
In his final year as a Yellow Jacket, Kendall set career highs with the three interceptions and 12 pass breakups, as well as 56 tackles, four tackles for lost yards, a forced fumble and sack.
"I learned a lot of things," Kendall said of his time at BW. "I learned how to be a teammate, a leader. I learned how to handle adversity and just not take the game for granted.
"I learned that life's going to happen, and so, it's easier best to just take it day by day and handle and control what you can control. But Coach Hilvert has a real nice system over at BW, and it was a pleasure being able to play my years over there."
Following his making the initial 53-man roster, Kendall and his Titans teammates were given time off over Labor Day Weekend before reporting back to Nashville and beginning preparations for the Week 1 game at the New Orleans Saints.
A native of Port Richey, Florida, Kendall spent part of the weekend back where his NFL dream first became possible: Tressel Field at the George Finnie Stadium at BW. During the first half, Kendall was recognized by the athletic department and received a rousing ovation from the crowd attending the Yellow Jackets' season opener against Mount St. Joseph.
Fast-forward three weeks, and Kendall once again will be spending time in Northeast Ohio, but this time, it is a business trip, as the Titans are set for a Week 3 showdown with the Cleveland Browns.
"I've gotten a lot of texts just letting me know that they're going to be at the game, looking forward to seeing me," Kendall said of hearing from his former teammates and coaches this week. "I've got some close friends who I'm excited to go out there and be able to play in front of.
"It is real cool to be able to go out there early in my career and be able to show them in person and be out there. I know a lot of people are proud of me over there, and I'm excited, like I said, to just play in front of those guys."
When Kendall takes the field at Cleveland Browns Stadium Sunday, he will do so looking to help the Titans move to 2-1 and keep pace with both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South Division standings.
However, Kendall also will be showing his former teammates and future Yellow Jackets that any dream is possible, no matter how long the odds.
"My advice would be to believe in yourself," Kendall said. "At the end of the day, everybody can believe in you, but if you don't believe in yourself, that's where it starts. Just continue to keep faith in God, and everything else will take care of itself."