(Photo: Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics, Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics Communications)

A famous saying goes “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” For Rutgers walk-on corner Sandy Anya, it began with a single phone call to the general information number on the Rutgers University website:

Certainly a strange way to go about gaining information about joining the Scarlet Knights’ football program.

Anya, who was unsure at if he wanted to play college football, decided to attend Middlesex Community College, a two-year community college in Edison, New Jersey. But after a year, the urge hit him, and he decided that he would try out for Rutgers. Anya even stated it was his parents, brother, and sister that urged him to pick up the phone.

From there, Anya’s message got to then-Rutgers recruiting coordinator Phil Galiano, who organized a Pro-Day style tryout in September 2014. Anya apparently impressed the staff enough for him to join the team as a walk-on in midseason after being stuck in limbo before the NCAA was able to clear him to play.

“I had just never been in a Big Ten, Division 1 facility before,” Anya said, “so I came in here and it was a surreal feeling. I was out of my mind. All I knew was work hard and in the end everything is going to work out for you. That’s all I did.”

To better his chances of playing time, Anya moved from receiver, where the Rutgers have five proven upperclassmen, to cornerback in the offseason, which comes at a time in which four Rutgers’ cornerbacks were arrested and dismissed from the team.

With the Scarlet Knights only operating with two healthy scholarship cornerbacks at the moment in Blessuan Austin and Isaiah Wharton, Anya suddenly finds himself as the No. 3 corner on the roster in place of the injured Jarius Adams. With its cornerback depth tested, Anya could find his way on the field sooner rather than later, especially as he continues adjusting to playing corner.

“I was nervous, but I knew I had the ability so I just kept my confidence up and I knew I’d be fine,” Anya said. “It’s definitely faster paced than I’ve ever played. But it starts to slow down when you understand what you have to do and what the coaches want from you.”

After Rutgers cleaned house and brought in a new coaching staff, that has been a blessing in disguise for Anya, who has completely blended in with the rest of the Scarlet Knights and everyone is on the same page in having to learn new concepts the same way that he is. While Rutgers is expected to replenish its cornerback depth with Michigan transfer Ross Taylor-Douglas, junior college transfer Kobe Marfo, and true freshman Damon Hayes, Anya has proven he’s resourceful and tough enough to see time on the field, whether on defense or special teams.

“With the new change, everything is new for everybody,” Anya said. “My confidence is up here and the coaches always tell me, ‘Sandy, keep going hard and doing what you are doing. That’s what I rely on.’”

“I love special teams,” Anya said. “Nothing is solidified. I’m just waiting for Coach Ash to give me the go-ahead. Wherever you ask me to line up, I’ll be there.”

It remains to be seen how Sandy Anya’s collegiate career will end, but sometimes in order to get what you want, a little bit of initiative will go a long way.

[Asbury Park Press/Photo: Rutgers Athletic Department]

About Colby Lanham

Colby Lanham is a graduate of Clemson University who, in addition to writing for The Comeback, has written for SI's Campus Rush, Bleacher Report, and Clemson Athletics. He is an alumni of the 2015 Sports Journalism Institute, where he also worked as an editorial intern for MLB.com. He has interests in football, basketball, and various forms of pop culture.