Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM MAY 2023 35 FOOTBALL RECRUITING BY MIKE SINGER It didn't take long for Roswell (Ga.) High class of 2024 offensive lineman Anthonie Knapp to go from a recruit without an offer to being on the Notre Dame commitment list. He picked up an offer from the Irish March 24 during a campus visit, and just five days later announced his pledge to the Fighting Irish. "I love Notre Dame," Knapp told Blue & Gold Illustrated a few days before an- nouncing his decision. "My family and I are so pumped up. It's been a great day." The rising senior informed Irish head coach Marcus Freeman of his commit- ment March 25 and declared it publicly March 29. Going into the visit, Knapp was feel- ing "optimistic" that he'd pick up an offer from the Fighting Irish. New Notre Dame offensive line coach Joe Rudolph started contacting his father, which Knapp took as a good sign. Knapp woke up Friday eager to get to the Irish Athlet- ics Center for prac- t i c e . H i s p a re n ts ? They wanted to sleep in a bit more — and u n d e rs ta n d a b ly s o after a day of travel. Knapp's day got started at the crack of dawn as he walked over from his on- campus hotel to the facility for practice. "When I stepped in that door at 6:30, I knew where I wanted to go," Knapp explained. "It just felt so right. Recruits will say that when you go to a college, you know when it feels right. Notre Dame just felt right. "The stars aligned. As soon as I got the offer, the final box was checked." What exactly was the feeling for Knapp that made it clear Notre Dame was the best choice for him? "The best I can explain it is when I sat in that team meeting and offensive line room, I forgot I was a recruit," he an- swered. "I was so focused on the meet- ing and I was like, 'Oh wait, I'm not a player.' I felt like I was getting ready to put on a jersey and practice." In mid-October, Knapp picked up an offer from Virginia Tech, while Rudolph was on staff there. And at the end of January — a few weeks before Rudolph officially joined the Irish staff — Knapp v i s i te d t h e Ho k i e s and spent time with Rudolph during that trip. "I've built a strong connection with Coach Rudolph," Knapp noted. "He gave me my first Power Five offer when he was back at Virginia Tech. I've known him for al- most a year now." What position Knapp will play at the next level is to be determined. He's listed as an offensive tackle, but his listed size of 6-foot-4, 265 pounds is not typical for that position at Notre Dame. Still, he could play there, as well as any position on the Irish offensive line. "I've done research on their recruit- ing previously, and they like big 6-6, 300-pound offensive tackles out of high school, and that's not who I am," he explained. "I'm 6-4, but in talking to Coach Rudolph, he cares about tackles who can move, are fast and good with their weight — and that's what makes me unique. I can move, and I'm super aggressive. "He sees me as an offensive tackle. Obviously, if I move to a different position, I'll do whatever it takes to get on the field. But coming in, he's going to put me at offensive tackle." When asked to give more information about himself, Knapp wanted to direct the spotlight away from him. Rather, he wanted to talk about the people who have helped him along in his career. He singled out Robbie Roper, a teammate of his who tragically passed away in 2021 due to a rare genetic disorder. "I don't think I could have gotten to where I am without him," Knapp said. Knapp is the nation's No. 41 offensive tackle and the No. 69 player in Georgia according to On3. Penn State, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Duke, Missouri and Louisville were among his other scholarship offers. Knapp is Notre Dame's ninth com- mitment of the 2024 class and the sec- ond offensive lineman, joining Malvern (Pa.) Prep's Peter Jones. ✦ Notre Dame Lands Peach State Offensive Lineman FILM ANALYSIS "[Anthonie] Knapp is a developmental offen- sive line prospect who plays tackle at the high school level, and we think he has the athletic ability to play out on the edge in college, but for a long-term projection, he's most likely to slide inside due to his length. There's a lot to like about Knapp based on what he showed as a junior. "As a player, he moves like you'd expect for a lineman his size. It's what you want to see. He has very light feet and moves well to the second level. What is surprising and en- couraging on his junior film is the physicality that he plays with. He is a very assertive drive blocker. He has some emphatic finishes, and that bodes well if Knapp ends up as a center or guard. The mentality and the technical skills as a run blocker is encouraging in addition to the tackle feet." — On3 director of scouting and rankings Charles Power COMMITMENT PROFILE ANTHONIE KNAPP Knapp, a 6-foot-4, 265-pounder from Roswell, Ga., is the nation's No. 41 offensive tackle and the No. 69 player in Georgia according to On3. PHOTO COURTESY ON3.COM "The stars aligned. As soon as I got the offer, the final box was checked." KNAPP