Anthony Firkser

Anthony Firkser
refer to caption
Firkser with the Tennessee Titans in 2018
No. 86 – Tennessee Titans
Position: Tight end
Personal information
Born: (1995-02-19) February 19, 1995
Manalapan Township, New Jersey
Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight: 246 lb (112 kg)
Career information
High school: Manalapan (N.J.) High School
College: Harvard
Undrafted: 2017
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status: Active
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com

Anthony Paul Firkser (born February 19, 1995) is an American football tight end for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Harvard.[1]

High School career

Firkser was a multi-sport athlete at Manalapan (N.J.) High School. In basketball, Firkser played point guard, scoring 21.3 points and 7.6 assists per game. He finished his career second in school history with 1,362 points. In his senior year, the Shore Basketball Coaches named Firkser the Shore Conference Co-Player of the Year. He was also named the Shore Conference ‘A’ North Division Offensive Player of the Year and made the all-state team.

Firkser did not begin playing football until his sophomore year in high school. During Firkser’s three-year high school career, the Manalapan football team went 30-6 and won three consecutive ‘A’ North Division titles. During one stretch, Manalapan had an 18-game winning streak within the division. After a semifinals visit in the state playoffs his sophomore year, Firkser and his teammates played for the NJSIAA Central Jersey title in his junior and senior years. While at Manalapan, Firkser set career school records in receptions (110), receiving yards (2,118) and touchdown receptions (19). After his senior year, he was named All-Shore Offensive Player of the Year as a senior wide receiver. Firkser also was a two-time All-Shore first team selection.[2]

College career

Firkser received scholarship offers from Harvard and four other universities. Citing the University’s academic program and the school’s willingness to let him play both basketball and football, Firkser committed to play for coach Tim Murphy at Harvard on October 17, 2012.[3]

College statistics

YearTeamGPRecRec/GmYardsYds/GmAvg/RecTD
2014Harvard 10323.248548.515.24
2015Harvard 9222.437241.316.93
2016Harvard 10454.570270.215.67
Career29993.4155953.815.714

Firkser saw his first collegiate action in 2014 as a sophomore. He appeared in 10 games for Harvard and made 32 catches for 485 yards. His four touchdowns receptions tied for first on the team and he ranked second on the squad in both catches and yards. After the season, Firkser was named to the All-Ivy second team. Firkser started nine games and caught 22 passes for 372 yards and three touchdowns in 2015 as a junior. For the second consecutive season, he was named to the All-Ivy League second team. As a senior in 2016, Firkser started all 10 games for Harvard and made 45 receptions for 702 yards and seven touchdowns. He was he was named to the All-Ivy League first team. At the conclusion of his collegiate career, Firkser ranked 12th all-time in school history in receptions, ninth all-time in receiving yards and sixth all-time in touchdown receptions. On March 19, 2018, Firkser participated in the Harvard Pro Day, an event where Harvard football players demonstrate their skills to an audience of NFL scouts and coaches. Nearly half of the NFL teams attended this event.[4]

Pre-draft measurables
Ht Wt 40-yard dash 10-yd split 20-yd split 20-ss 3-cone Vert jump Broad BP
6 ft 2 in
(1.88 m)		 241 lb
(109 kg)		 4.79 s 1.65 s 2.76 s 4.19 s 6.88 s 31.5 in
(0.80 m)		 8 ft 11 in
(2.72 m)		 21 reps

Professional career

Coming into the 2017 NFL Draft, scouting reports projected Firkser to best fit with an NFL team in a role of a fullback/tight end hybrid player. Scouts believed Firkser was tough, intelligent and relatively athletic. Scouts also praised him for his ability to quickly get into pass routes and adjust to errant throws. However, scouts negatively viewed him as possessing just an average size and questioned his strength as a blocker.[5]

New York Jets

Firkser signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent on May 5, 2017.[6] He was waived by the Jets on September 2, 2017.[7]

Kansas City Chiefs

On November 29, 2017, Firkser was signed to the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad.[8] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Chiefs on January 8, 2018.[9] He was waived on April 30, 2018.[10]

Tennessee Titans

On May 14, 2018, Firkser was signed by the Tennessee Titans.[11] During the 2018 preseason, he was second on the team in receptions (10) and second on the team in receiving yards (108). On September 1, 2018, Firkser was named to the Titans' initial 53-man roster.[12] He was waived by the Titans on September 17, 2018 and was re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[13][14] He was promoted to the active roster on October 8, 2018.[15]

Personal life

Firkser was born on February 19, 1995 to Alex and Donna Firkser. His brother, Josh, played football at Wagner. In 2013, he played guard for the 18 and under Team USA basketball squad at the quadrennial Maccabiah Games in Israel.[16] He graduated from Harvard in 2017 with a degree in applied mathematics. During the 2018 offseason, Firkser participated in actuarial credential exams in hopes of potentially pursuing a post-football career as an actuary. He volunteers with his former high school football coach to help train and give advice to aspiring young football players in his hometown community of Manalapan, New Jersey.[17]

References

  1. ↑ "Anthony Firkser, Biography". titansonline.com. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  2. ↑ Morris, Tim (August 14, 2013). "Firkser excelled in both football and basketball". GMNews Archive. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Anthony Firkser, Recruiting Activity". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Harvard Football Hosts 2017 Pro Day". gocrimson.com. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Draft Analyst: Anthony Firkser". draftanalyst.com. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  6. ↑ Allen, Eric (May 5, 2017). "Jets Sign Eight Undrafted Free Agents". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  7. ↑ Lange, Randy (September 2, 2017). "Jets Reduce to 53 with 23 Player Moves". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Chiefs Release WR Devin Lucien from PS, Sign TE Anthony Firkser". NFL Trade Rumors. November 29, 2017. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  9. ↑ Paylor, Terez A. (January 9, 2018). "Chiefs sign 10 to reserve-futures deals". KansasCity.com. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Chiefs make three cuts Monday". ArrowheadPride.com. May 1, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Titans add 5 players to the roster after rookie mini-camp". MusicCityMiracles.com. May 14, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Titans initial 53 man roster". MusicCityMiracles.com. September 1, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  13. ↑ Wyatt, Jim (September 17, 2018). "Titans Add WR Nick Williams, Waive TE Anthony Firkser, WR Cameron Batson". TitansOnline.com.
  14. ↑ Wyatt, Jim (September 18, 2018). "Titans Add RB Dalyn Dawkins, CB Kenneth Durden While Waiving LB Aaron Wallace". TitansOnline.com.
  15. ↑ Wyatt, Jim (October 8, 2018). "Titans Promote TE Anthony Firkser to 53-Man Roster". TitansOnline.com.
  16. ↑ Richman, Alan (May 9, 2013). "Local athletes to compete in Israel Games". New Jersey Jewish News. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Anthony Firkser, Biography". titansonline.com. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
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