Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1338415
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com MARCH 2021 51 2021 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY ANDREW MENTOCK In late January, Rocco Spindler stood in front of his stone-clad house having just received a silver anvil. He kissed the top of the anvil, before hoisting it above his head. Snow cov- ered the ground and adjacent shrub- bery; a navy and gold "Irish" flag flapped atop a nearby pole. "Let's go," he said, grinning in a flannel shirt. Rocco had just won the 2020 State Champ Anvil Award, presented to the best high school lineman or linebacker in Michigan. Filming the event with his iPhone, his father, Marc, kicked the air and shouted in jubilation. This was the cherry atop the high school career of the 6-4, 295-pound Notre Dame offensive lineman, al- ready enrolled for the 2021 spring semester. As a high school freshman, his Clarkston Wolves won a state championship. Later, he was named a 2018 MaxPreps first-team Sopho- more All-American and a 2020 Under Armour All-American. The Anvil Award was an accolade he wanted, but wasn't sure he'd receive. Likely an offensive guard in South Bend, Rocco played on both sides of the ball throughout his prep career, but developed his nasty streak — a men- tality fueled by unrelenting passion and aggression — playing defense. That's why his father, who played nine NFL seasons along the defen- sive line for the Detroit Lions and the New York Jets, will still yearn for the days he watched his son burst through the line to swallow the running back or sack the quarterback and then celebrate with a Ric Flair-esque stomp. "That's what a lot of people don't un- derstand," Marc said. "Rocco is an all-state de- fensive tackle. There is no one who can knock Rocco Spindler off the ball. " Now, with the sole focus on of- fense, Marc believes his son will still carry that nastiness with him. "He has to play his game on the offensive side of the ball violently," the elder Spindler said. "He needs to bring that defensive mentality to the offense line, which he does. He has to come up with ways to be very physical in a sense that can give him the same gratification." Prior to his illustrious NFL career, Marc was the 1986 USA Today High School Defensive Player of the Year and then suited up for the Pittsburgh Panthers. During his collegiate years, his sole focus was football. All of his friends and roommates played with him at Pittsburgh. He visualized an NFL ca- reer path and it paid off. But after entrench- ing himself in life after football, Marc is now a businessman with more than 60 employees, and few friends remain from his football days. He understands the bonds, academic rigors and ex- periences he missed. "Looking back on it, where I thought maybe it was a distraction — it's not a distraction," Marc said. "It's awesome. It can be fantastic. It's going to be brilliant." The prospect of Rocco competing for a national championship and cul- tivating a life outside of football has all the Spindlers all in on the oppor- tunities that await such a dominant lineman at Notre Dame. ✦ Rocco Spindler Enrolls As A Well-Rounded Lineman Spindler was a 2020 Under Armour All-American and already h a d h i s n u m b e r r e t i r e d a t Clarkston (Mich.) High. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM ROCCO SPINDLER OFFENSIVE LINEMAN 6-4 · 295 CLARKSTON H.S. CLARKSTON, MICH. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 67 4* 3 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 66 1* 3 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 94 7* 4 * Ranked as OG STATISTICS • Tallied 53 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, two sacks, one blocked punt, two passes broken up, one in- terception and 24 quarterback hurries during his senior season. NOTABLE • Born on June 25, 2002. • 2020 Under Armour All-American. • 2020 Michigan Associated Press Division All- State Division 1-2 first-team offense. • 2020 MaxPreps Preseason Michigan All-State first-team offense. • 2019 and 2018 Detroit Free Press Dream Team. • Already had his number retired at Clarkston High. • 2020, 2019 and 2018 Oakland Activities As- sociation All-League team. • 2019 and 2018 Detroit News All-North Football Team. • 2018 Michigan Division 1-2 Associated Press All-State first-team offense. • 2018 MaxPreps High School Sophomore All- American first-team offense. • His father, Marc, was a top high school recruit in 1986 and went on to play at Pittsburgh before a nine-year NFL career with the Lions and Jets. • Intends to major in business. RECRUITMENT • Was one of Notre Dame's first targets in the 2021 class, receiving his offer on Sept. 30, 2018, during a campus visit. • Had a final five schools list of LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Penn State. • Many pundits believed he was a Michigan lean, but he spurned the local choice in favor of Notre Dame in August 2020. • Recruited by offensive line coach Jeff Quinn. • Enrolled early at Notre Dame in February. 2021 PROJECTION • Spindler is likely to redshirt as a freshman, but as a talented early enrollee he could crack the two- deep, if not seriously vie for more. THEY SAID IT Rivals Midwest recruiting analyst Josh Helm- holdt: "Maybe the best thing about adding Spin- dler is not his ceiling, but his floor. With his NFL bloodlines and body of work, he is a very low-risk prospect and a player you can pretty confidently plan on starting on your offensive line for several years." Rivals national recruiting director Mike Farrell: "I love Spindler's toughness and aggression on the field. He brings an attitude everywhere he goes and is a fiery competitor, so he'll fit right in with the Notre Dame mindset. This is a kid Michigan wanted badly, so to steal him away from his home state is a big deal and a great get. With his work ethic he could be a great one for Notre Dame if he stays healthy." National recruiting analyst Tom Lemming: "He reminds me of Quenton Nelson as an offensive lineman — big, tough, aggressive and has a non- stop motor. He's really willing to learn, too. He's not as big as Nelson was as a senior, but he'll be over 300 pounds when he gets to college. "He brings a lot to the table; he can play tackle or guard. He's really versatile. I think what sets him apart is that not only is he a good athlete, but he has that temperament that you look for that all of the great ones have."