St. Thomas Aquinas’ Hankerson caps career with 3 TDs, 3 state championship rings
Anthony Hankerson stood proudly holding up his championship medal and celebrating with his teammates on Friday night.
It’s something he has certainly gotten used to doing over the last two seasons. But this night was special because, now a senior, it was his final high school football game.
The St. Thomas Aquinas running back, after playing on the JV team as a ninth grader, has spent the last three seasons spearheading the Raiders’ rushing attack and finished things off in style on Friday.
Hankerson led all rushers in the game finishing with 117 yards and three touchdowns to help lead his Raiders to a 42-14 victory over Tampa Bay Tech in the Class 7A state championship game at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. It marked the third straight state title for the Raiders and second “three-peat” matching the 2014-16 teams.
“Tonight was very special and it feels great to really contribute to this win and close out my high school career in style,” Hankerson said. “We don’t take anything for granted and came out here tonight humble and just trying to work hard and respect our opponent. Shout out to Tampa Bay Tech but tonight we came out here full of emotion – everybody wanted it and we just wanted it more. It’s really special to do this for a third straight time.”
Hankerson got the Raiders rolling with a 30-yard touchdown run on the team’s opening drive of the game and then followed that one up with a four-yard score on their next possession for a quick 14-0 lead. St. Thomas led 21-0 after the first quarter and was never challenged the rest of the way.
Up 35-7, Hankerson bolted up the middle from 16 yards out for his third score with 2:23 left in the third quarter that pushed the margin to 35 and got the running clock going.
When asked about Hankerson, quarterback Zion Turner made it short and sweet.
“It’s a big stage, that’s what he does. He’s been an exceptional representative, just loves being a part of St. Thomas and as a result, as a football player, he’s done a great job,” Aquinas coach Roger Harriott said. “He’s going to be tremendously missed but at the same time he has set a precedent for others so his spirit will always be here.”
On a team with lots of high-end talent, which learns to share the limelight, Hankerson finished this season with 1,048 yards and 22 touchdowns and his three year totals were impressive – 3,411 yards and 43 touchdowns.
But, despite those impressive stats, when it comes to taking his talents to the next level, there’s been very little action from FBS schools. Early signing day came and went earlier this week without an offer from a big school. So Hankerson, whose 5-9, 190-pound frame could be scaring major schools off, will wait and see what happens when the next National Signing Day arrives on Feb. 2.
“I was just trying to focus and finish the season and will wait until February to see what else happens,” Hankerson said. “I’ve had a couple of coaches who have keep in contact with me, one from Florida and one from Arizona so we’ll see.”
But even though Hankerson hears all the whispers about his size, or lack of it, he claims it only makes him more determined to prove everyone wrong.
“I mean, you just put that inside you. You can’t be the underdog for long,” said Hankerson. “Being 5-9? It doesn’t show on the field at all and doesn’t show on the stats sheet. To me I’ve always been a size-don’t-matter person and if you’ve got a big heart, you can do whatever you want to do in life. Whoever gets me is getting a dog, a dog that’s going to work.”
Hankerson then took his right hand and placed it over his heart.
“They can’t measure what’s in here and that’s what counts.”
This story was originally published December 17, 2021 at 11:53 PM.