Former Lake View, Clemson star says he has to prove himself

Anthony Waters always has something to prove.

Whether it’s playing linebacker for tiny Class A Lake View or at Clemson, Waters always has played with an edge to his game.

Heading into his second season with the San Diego Chargers, Waters again has to show what he can do. He must show he can be the productive player the Chargers saw when they took him in the third round of last year’s NFL draft.

Waters didn’t see the field, except for two preseason games, after his knee never completely healed from tearing his ACL during the season opener his senior year at Clemson.

Waters gained more strength and confidence in the knee but wasn’t back at full strength until midseason. By that time, the Chargers were pretty set in their rotation at linebacker.

Waters still practiced but remained inactive for every game and was a bystander as the Chargers advanced to the AFC championship before losing to the Patriots, 21-12.

“It was pretty hard not to be able to contribute. That competitive nature is there and you want to be out there,” Waters said by phone Wednesday after one of team’s offseason workouts. “I was hard on myself and didn’t feel like part of the team sometime. But I knew I gave it all I had out there.”

Now, Waters said he is 100 percent and is ready to make an impact wherever he is needed, including special teams.

Chargers coach Norv Turner is confident Waters will make an impact this year.

“We think he’s going to be an outstanding player,” Turner said in an interview on Chargers.com. “ I expect Anthony to have an impact and contribute, whether it’s on special teams, whether it’s on first-down defense or an eight-man front defensive package. He’s running extremely well right now and he’s got a lot of talent.”

Waters said he learned some valuable lessons during what he called his “redshirt” year. He watched a lot of film and constantly asked questions of the veterans, including Stephen Cooper, the team’s starting inside linebacker.

Waters also took advice from cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who, like Waters, tore his ACL during his senior season at Florida State.

Cromartie has rebounded from the injury and was an All-Pro selection last year, leading the NFL with 10 interceptions.

“Seeing what Antonio has done has kept me going,” Waters said. “People doubted me, maybe saying I was living off stuff I did (in college). I just want to show people because I’m hurt, I’m not down.”

This isn’t the first time Waters has faced obstacles in his life.

Waters, one of nine children, grew up in humble surroundings in Lake View and watched his mother Lynnette do her best to provide her family.  He also had to deal with seeing two of his brothers serve time in prison.

Waters hasn’t forgotten those days growing up and did his part to give back to the area during the holidays last year. He had turkeys handed out to 25 families during Thanksgiving and also passed out toys for kids during Christmas.

Waters said he plans to make those two events happen on a yearly basis.

“I do realize I have been blessed,” Waters said. “It was hard on my family with nine kids and a single parent living in projects and government houses.
“We struggled, so any way I can give back I will.”

Waters also remembers the good times he had growing up in Lake View where he was a standout for the Wild Gators. As a senior, he led the team in rushing, receiving and tackles.

Still, Waters said there were doubters he could make make the transition from a Class A school to play at Clemson.

But all Waters did there was become the team’s leader on defense.  As a junior, he had a team-best 109 tackles, including 74 solo.

“Growing up, I had a lot of people behind and against me,” Waters said. “You got to take the negative things you will never to give up and sky is the limit.”

Waters could have easily duplicated that success had he not suffered the knee injury against Florida Atlantic.

Now, Waters believes he can return to the form many scouts believed would have made him a first-round draft pick.

“I still feel I got a lot to prove. I have been just working hard and want to show people I could still play,” Waters said.