Rookie Anthony Amos continues to impress
Anthony Amos is considered a strong route runner, but he took a circuitous path to the Spokane Shock.
Coaches discovered Amos at an open tryout in Atlanta last November that included current Shock defensive lineman Dominique Duster. Amos stood out so much with his hands and precise routes that fourth-year coach Andy Olson called it “the best workout I’ve ever seen.”
Amos played two years at a junior college before walking on at Middle Tennessee, where he nearly posted a 1,000-yard season and earned first-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors. He was cut by the Dallas Cowboys late in training camp and had a tryout with Montreal of the CFL in 2014.
Amos was exploring his football options when he and his father saw an online notice about a Shock tryout.
“It has been a long road,” Amos said. “Throughout my life it’s been a long road. I had to start from the bottom, had to go out and prove to the coaches I can play. All my life it’s been like that. I take that and keep running with it.”
Olson couldn’t recall another player from an open tryout that has made a similar impact. Few ever get signed, let alone make the team.
Amos has been a bright spot at a position hit hard by injuries and a suspension. Amos has emerged as Spokane’s go-to receiver in the absence of Mike Washington (season-ending Achilles’ surgery) and Rashaad Carter, who is wearing a cast on his right forearm. Amos has averaged 9.5 catches for 101.5 yards in Spokane’s last four games.
“He should be a candidate for rookie of the year,” Olson said. “He’s one of the best rookies, if not the best, I’ve had at receiver. Very comparable to Kamar (Jordan) but craftier. He brings so much consistency for a rookie.”
Not bad for a 6-foot, 185-pounder who didn’t generate a great deal of interest when he left high school or college.
“They said I ran good routes and could catch really well but my 40 time was 4.6 coming out of (Middle Tennessee),” Amos said. “That’s the biggest thing I was working on during my year out of football.”
Amos didn’t play in the season opener and had just two catches for zero yards in week 2 against Philadelphia. In his last eight games, Carter has 54 receptions for 626 yards and 11 touchdowns.