Anthony Egbo Jr. brought two conference championship rings to Wylie High School on Monday, Sept. 21, and a message for students who've been told they're not good enough.

Egbo, a former Abilene Christian University (ACU) defensive back and current director of the school's Wildcat Club, visited the campus to speak with students about persistence, self-worth and preparing for what he called life's "next window." He let students pass the rings around and try them on. The rings represent ACU's back-to-back United Athletic Conference titles in 2024 and 2025.

Egbo arrived at ACU in 2018 as a walk-on from Foster High School in Richmond, Texas. No scholarship. No guarantee of playing time. He promised his mother he would earn a scholarship. It took four years, but he did.

"Don't let anyone dictate your worth," Egbo told students.

That persistence carried him well beyond the field. He was voted team captain for the 2023 season and became one of the best defensive backs in the Western Athletic Conference, according to ACU Athletics. Off the field, he earned a bachelor's degree in psychology with a 3.95 GPA and a Master of Business Administration with a 3.91 GPA. ACU named him a University Scholar in 2022, the school's highest academic honor for a graduate.

Egbo also rose through student-athlete leadership. He served as president of ACU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee in 2023-2024 and as vice chair of the national Division I SAAC in 2024. He was named the 2023-2024 FCS Athletic Directors Association Scholar Athlete of the Year.

At Wylie High, Egbo spoke about Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities and his experience testifying before members of Congress on behalf of student-athletes. In a LinkedIn post earlier in 2025, Egbo wrote that he testified to protect NIL rights and ensure access to opportunities, particularly for athletes at non-Power 5 schools or in non-revenue-generating sports.

His central message to students was about preparation. He urged them to figure out who they are, what they care about and what they're good at before someone else tries to define those things for them. Egbo told students they won't get that window back, encouraging them to prepare for the future while still appreciating where they are now.

Egbo has served as director of the Wildcat Club, ACU's fundraising arm for all 15 athletic programs, since July 2024.