Vincent Anthony Jr.

Duke defenders Vincent Anthony Jr., Josiah Green and Chandler Rivers, all wearing a white helmet, white jersey and white pants, celebrate a tackle versus No. 16 Virginia in the 2025 ACC Championship Game.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke defensive end Vincent Anthony Jr., wearing a black helmet, blue jersey and black pants, rushes the quarterback during the Blue Devils' game against No. 12 Georgia Tech.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke defenders Elliott Schaper and Vincent Anthony Jr. combine for a sack during the Blue Devils' 45-21 victory at Cal on October 4, 2025.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke safety Caleb Weaver makes a tackle in his first game as a Blue Devil, versus Elon in the 2025 season opener.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Terry Moore, Vincent Anthony Jr. and Chandler Rivers celebrate a Moore interception versus Ole Miss in the Gator Bowl.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

VJ Anthony rushes the passer against Notre Dame.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

VJ Anthony, Ozzie Nicholas and Wesley Williams celebrate a fumble recovery at Northwestern.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

VJ Anthony rushes the passer at Georgia Tech.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

VJ Anthony rushes the passer against UNC.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Position:
Defensive End
Height:
6-6
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Durham, N.C.

CAREER: Four-year letterman (2022-23-24-25) … Honorable Mention All-ACC honoree in 2025 … earned ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors on September 8, 2025 … 2022 Academic All-ACC selection … helped Duke to a program-record 35 wins over four seasons, four bowl game appearances (2022 Military Bowl, 2023 76 Birmingham Bowl, 2024 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl and 2025 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl), three bowl victories and Duke's first ACC championship since 1960 … in 49 career games (42 starts), compiled 103 tackles, 29.5 TFL, 15.0 sacks, one caused fumble, one fumble recovery, eight PBUs and 23 QB pressures ... on the Duke record chart, finished tied for sixth in sacks … recorded 2+ tackles 32 times, including a career-best six tackles against Elon both the 2024 and 2025 season openers ... registered 2.0+ TFL seven times with a career-high 3.0 versus No. 11 Illinois and California in 2025 ... carded a career-high 3.0 sacks versus the Fighting Illini in 2025, tied for the fourth most in a game in program history ... credited with 2+ QB pressures four times with a personal-best three at NC State in 2024 ... tallied lone fumble recovery against North Carolina A&T in 2022 … forced a fumble against Tulane in 2025 … played 1,887 career snaps.

2025: Honorable Mention All-ACC … recipient of the team’s lineman of the year award … started 13 games and did not participate in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl after declaring for the NFL Draft … compiled 33 tackles, 13.0 TFL, 7.5 sacks, one caused fumble, two PBUs and four QB pressures … finished tied for eighth in Duke single-season history with 7.5 sacks … led the squad in TFL and sacks … ranked tied for sixth in the ACC in total sacks, tied for seventh in sacks per game (0.58), tied for eighth in total TFL and tied for ninth in TFL per game (1.00) … part of a Duke defense that featured three players with 9.0+ TFL (Aaron Hall — 11.0 & Wesley Williams — 9.0) ... Duke was one of just three programs in the ACC to have three or more players with 9.0+ TFL, joining Miami and Clemson ... posted 2+ tackles 10 times with a year-best six against Elon in the season opener … registered 2.0+ TFL three times and 3.0 versus Illinois and California … carded a career-high 3.0 sacks against No. 11 Illinois and added 1.5 at California ... named the September 8 ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week and earned a spot on the Pro Football Focus National Team of the Week following performance against the Fighting Illini … the 3.0 sacks are tied for the fourth most in a single game in program history tied Phillip Alexander (3.0; No. 6 Florida State; Sept. 27, 2003) for the most by a Blue Devil against a ranked opponent … of the Fighting Illini's first 10 offensive plays, two were Anthony Jr. sacks as he booked all three within the first 16 minutes of action … credited with a QB pressure in four contests … on the field for 650 snaps.

2024: Started 12 games, missing just the Virginia Tech contest ... the defensive recipient of Duke's Cutcliffe Family Awards, which are presented annually to the most improved players in the program ... compiled 25 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 5.0 sacks, three PBUs and 13 QB pressures … part of a Duke defense that featured four players with 9.5+ TFL (Alex Howard — 14.5, Wesley Williams — 13.5 & Cameron Bergeron — 9.5) ... Duke was one of just three programs in the ACC to have four players with 9.5+ TFL, joining Clemson and Pitt ... posted 2+ tackles seven times with a year-best six against Elon … registered 2.0+ TFL four times, with a season-best 2.5 versus North Carolina ... carded a season-high 2.0 sacks against Elon and added solo sacks versus North Carolina and Wake Forest ... credited with 1+ QB pressure in eight contests with 2+ four times ... the 13 QB pressures are the seventh most in a year in program history ... tallied a career-high three QB pressures at NC State, tied for the fourth most in a game in Duke history … on the field for 519 snaps.

2023: Saw action in 11 games, making four starts against Clemson, Lafayette, Northwestern and Connecticut … missed the Florida State and Louisville contests … compiled 17 tackles, 4.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks, one PBU and two QB pressures … posted 1+ tackle in nine games, including a season-high three against Northwestern, Wake Forest and Pittsburgh … recorded 2+ tackles on five occasions … tallied 1.0 TFL in contests against Lafayette, Pittsburgh and Troy … secured 1.0 sack against Pittsburgh … posted one QB pressure against Northwestern and Troy as well as one PBU against the Trojans … on the field for 228 snaps.

2022: Academic All-ACC selection ... recipient of the team’s rookie of the year award ... saw action in all 13 games, making 12 starts ... compiled 28 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 0.5 sack, one fumble recovery, two PBUs and four QB pressures ... posted 1+ tackle in 11-of-13 games, including a season-best four against UCF in the Military Bowl ... recorded 2+ tackles 10 times ... tallied 1.0 TFL in back-to-back contests against Northwestern and North Carolina A&T ... recorded lone sack versus Wake Forest ... tallied fumble recovery against North Carolina A&T ... registered one PBU in contests with Northwestern and Georgia Tech, while earning one QB pressure against Temple, Northwestern, Virginia and Boston College ... on the field for 490 snaps ... enrolled at Duke in January, 2022.

PRIOR TO DUKE: Lettered three seasons at Jordan under coaches Anthony Barbour and Justin Allred … rated a three-star prospect by ESPN.com, 247Sports.com and Rivals.com … listed as the No. 74 defensive end in the country by ESPN.com … ranked as the No. 24 and No. 26 prospect from the state of North Carolina according to ESPN.com and 247Sports.com, respectively … compiled 127 tackles, 39.0 TFL, 19.0 sacks, 54 QB pressures, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries during final two seasons … added seven blocked field goals … two-time team captain and all-conference selection, as well as Jordan’s defensive player of the year recipient ... named to the 4A All-State Second Team ... participated in the All-American Bowl on January 8, 2022, in San Antonio, Texas.

PERSONAL: Double majoring in African & African American studies and cultural anthropology … son of Bonnye and Vincent Anthony Sr. … father was a two-year letterwinner on the football team at North Carolina Central University (1987-88).