ANWAR O’NEAL #70
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 310lb
Position: OL
Class: Senior
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Summary: O’ Neal (no relation to ‘Diesel’ that I am aware of) joins the Cards after leaving the Delaware Blue Hens. ‘Bird’s the word’ evidently in the O’Neal house.
If you’re thinking “Delaware, isn’t that the team with Michigan look alike helmets?” Yes, that is the team with a similar style helmet.
“Delaware, they won a bunch of DII titles, right? Are they still DII?” Yes, they did win a bunch of DII titles, but no, they moved up to FBS last year and joined our old buddies in Conference USA, and they did really well, winning seven games and a bowl game in the first year at the highest level. But we didn’t come here for an extensive Delaware TED talk, and frankly I’m more of a Vermont guy anyway.
O’Neal was a heck of player last year and when he hit the portal he received extensive interest from multiple P4 programs, including some last minute theatrics from Tennessee and South Carolina. His 6’5” and 310lb frame is tough to miss, and miss he rarely does. The LT played over 900 snaps last year and graded out more favorably in pass protection throughout the year. His size was helpful in creating a wall but he does need some development in his footwork and speed. He was credited with allowing seven sacks last year but most came in one game (3) where he was a bit dinged up. Speaking of dinged up, O’Neal was injured during the Spring and will be using the entire summer to recover with hopes to get back early in the year. Timeline for his return is TBD but sounds like the first few games are unlikely for his debut. While ‘eligibility’ is more a of social construct at this point in college athletics, my understanding is Anwar still has a couple years left to play if 2026 is shortened.
If you’d like to see him in action, feel free to watch him toss around a few Ragin’ Cajuns in the bowl game below. He’s rocking #70 for the Hens, and playing LT almost exclusively. While you enjoy his highlights, don’t get lost in the fact that this was one of the best bowl games last year and a great appetizer to kick off your “July is almost hear, college football magazines are arriving, and I can smell a tailgate anywhere within a 5 mile radius of my home” season.
