[2][3] He played college football as a two-way lineman and wrestled for the Southern Illinois University Salukis.

Nicknamed "Twine"[11] from his wrestling days,[5] Antwine was cited by Pro Football Hall of Famer Billy Shaw as one of the American Football League's best pass rushers, athletic and very quick on his feet, usually drawing double-team blocking for a line that also featured "Earthquake" Jim Lee Hunt.

[12] The Pro Football Hall of Fame states Antwine became "one of the most dominant defensive players in league history especially noted as devastating against the run.

"[13] Teammate Gino Cappelletti described Antwine with quickness akin to a cat that could rush with his speed and technique.

[14] Antwine was the AFL Defensive Player of the Week as he sacked Dan Darragh three times in the Patriots' 16–7 win over the Buffalo Bills at War Memorial Stadium on September 8, 1968.

[3] He posted a career high ten tackles in the Patriots' 33–14 win over the Cincinnati Bengals at Fenway Park on December 1, 1968.

[citation needed] He was traded in 1972 to the Philadelphia Eagles for Bill Hobbs and started nine games in his final season.