Anthony Lanier II received a key to the city for performing one good turn after another.
The presentation took place on Nov. 21, 2020 in Savannah, Ga., where he was born, raised and influenced by his late grandfather, Elijah Powell Sr.
“He was a Korean War vet,” says Lanier II, a fourth-year member of the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders. “I’m very proud of him.
“When he was alive, I always walked in his footsteps. He is very much a man who made the product that you see today. I tried to be as much like him as possible.”
Powell Sr. was 91 when he passed away on April 8, 2021, barely a month after Lanier II signed his first contract with the Roughriders.
The many tributes to Powell Sr. included commendation for his efforts on behalf of Operation Clean Sweep — an initiative in which young people, aged 12 to 16, cut lawns and cleaned up debris in Savannah.
Lanier II says his grandfather and his associates “raised us to take care of our community,” and the message was clearly absorbed.
Undefeated Warrior: The Anthony M. Lanier II Foundation Inc. was created to support community-based organizations and promote education, good health, and the development of character, social skills and values that empower young people in Savannah to recognize and reach their full potential.
Lanier II served as a glowing example for all by making it to the NFL and using that platform, along with the influence it provides, to benefit and inspire others.
Hence the proclamation of Anthony Lanier II Day in Savannah (population: 150,000) and the awarding of a key to the city. The honour was bestowed upon Lanier II after he had spearheaded a food drive.
The community-mindedness has also been evident since Lanier II joined the Roughriders.
“A lot of the work that we’ve done so far has been great, but we’re not done yet,” he says.
“There’s a lot more work I want to put into the community, because I want everybody to be proud to wear their green.
“We do have a wonderful organization and a wonderful community and we want to see the growth in the community from the youth.
“I remember going into youth programs and seeing kids who, when I first got up here, cried every step of the way through football drills, and now they’re at the top of their class going into their drills.
“It has been a blessing, the whole way through. I love it.”
Lanier II has also been blessed with good genes.
“Anthony Lanier I was a great athlete,” his 31-year-old son says. “My father is well known from South Carolina all the way down to Florida and all the way down to Alabama for his talent in basketball.
“Any rec teams, any adult teams, everybody speaks about how good he was with a basketball back in the day.”
Like father, like son.
Lanier II was an accomplished two-sport athlete for the Warriors of Herschel V. Jenkins High School before enrolling at Alabama A&M University and playing football and basketball for his first two years at the Huntsville-based campus.
“I loved sports,” the 6-foot-6, 285-pounder says. “I loved to run. I loved to interact. I loved to win.
“I was able to keep my mind focused on training by being able to play both sports.
“I wish I would have had an opportunity to continue to play both, but I saw the opportunity for football a little bit sooner than I did for basketball.”
Lanier II began his professional football career when he signed an NFL contract with Washington on May 6, 2016.
He played in five games as a rookie and followed up in 2017 by appearing in 11 contests and starting in two.
Over those 11 games, he registered five sacks — including two in one game — and five tackles for a loss.
He celebrated his first NFL sack on Nov. 19, 2017, against the New Orleans Saints and their legendary quarterback.
“It was crazy,” Lanier II says with a laugh, “because at the time it happened, it didn’t register with me that I had gotten my first sack and especially that it was against Drew Brees — a future Hall of Famer. So when it happened, I just jumped back up and went on to the next play.
“When the game was over, I walked into the locker room and, before I knew it, there were around 45 cameras and microphones in front of my face.
“I’m like, ‘What’s going on?!’ Everybody was saying, ‘Congratulations on your first sack — against Drew Brees!’ I’m like, ‘Oh yeah … I did hit him once.’
“It was a moment I’ll never forget — even though I did forget, because I didn’t even know I did it!
“It was a blessing from God.”
So is the ability to play a sport for a living and to use his profile and popularity as a vehicle to enhance the lives of others.
That will be Lanier II’s mission long after his football career has concluded and quarterbacks are no longer on the run as a result of his presence.
“It’s whatever God really wants me to do,” he muses. “At this point in my life, and throughout my whole life, I’ve let Him take the wheel. I’ve just been walking my faith and not my sight.
“Every step of the way, God has had me, and I’m going to continue to let Him direct me every step of the way.”
