Stephone Anthony was drafted to the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the NFL Draft Thursday night.

Stephone Anthony is shown playing for Anson High School in this 2010 file photo.

Anson High School football standout Stephone Anthony, left, was presented a $1,000 check and trophy for being named WSOC’s Big 22 Player of the Year by WSOC reporter Tiffany Wright during a ceremony Nov. 12, 2010.

Polkton native and Anson High School football standout Stephone Anthony made history last week, becoming the first person from Anson County to be drafted in the first round to the NFL. Anthony was picked by the New Orleans Saints as the 31st overall pick on Thursday night.

For weeks, excitement had built over Anthony’s inclusion in the draft, although some experts had predicted he wouldn’t go in the first round. However, Anthony’s impressive record at Clemson University impressed the Saints scouts, whom he had met with at Clemson’s pro day.

Anthony was at home in Polkton with his daughter when he received the call.

“I was in daddy mode,” he told The Times-Picayune in New Orleans.

“We had an excellent meeting,” Anthony said. “I met with coach Payton, coach Rob Ryan and coach (Joe) Vitt, the linebackers coach. He’s going to be an exciting guy to play for. There was just something about those guys. We clicked.”

Anthony was named to the first team All-ACC by ACC football coaches on Dec. 10. He was also chosen preseason First-Team All-ACC by the media and preseason first-team All-ACC by Athlon, Phil Steele and Sporting News.

“Anthony is Clemson’s top tackler with 87 tackles and has 9.5 tackles for loss,” according to an online article posted on Clemson sports website, TigerNet.com.

“This is one of the finest athletic accomplishments in Anson County that I can remember,” said Neal Jones, who has followed Anthony’s career both at Anson High School and at Clemson.

In February 2011, Anthony earned a full scholarship to Clemson University, after being heavily recruited by colleges and universities throughout the Southeast. During his senior year at Anson, he played in the Under Armour All-America game, was named to the Charlotte Observer’s All-Observer First Team, was named Gatorade’s Football Player of the Year in North Carolina and was named the Big 22 Player of the Year by WSOC-TV in Charlotte.

In 2012, Anthony changed his jersey from #12, which he wore in 2011 and 2012, to #42 for the 2013 season. He wore the #42 when he played for Anson.

“Nothing’s given,” Anthony told The Times-Picayune. “No matter where you go or what round or whatever pick you are, you’ve got to come in and work. I’ve still got to earn everything I got. I’ve been that way my whole life.”

Anthony said it was a dream come true when he received the momentous call Thursday night.

“Oh man, I barely could get any words out,” he said. “I immediately got emotional. It’s a dream come true for me, something I always dreamed of as a kid, to get that phone call and see my name come across the screen. It was surreal.”