Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM MARCH 2024 47 2024 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY TODD D. BURLAGE R ealizing his dream school had finally come calling and his fu- ture was now, Anthonie Knapp wasted little time last spring when going from a recruit without a Notre Dame offer to a firm Fighting Irish com- mitment just five days later. Talk about a quick courtship. T h e c u r re n t I r i s h freshman picked up his Notre Dame scholarship offer last March during a campus visit. And less than a week later, the Roswell (Ga.) High School product was committed and ready to become a Janu- ary enrollee. "The stars aligned," Knapp recently explained of his college choice. "As soon as I got the offer, the final box was checked." As expected, Knapp's early college career has already tested him in myriad ways. During one of his first workouts af- ter arriving on campus in January, the bruising 6-foot-4, 266-pound lineman felt sluggish because of a head cold, or so he thought. But when Knapp visited the team doctor, he immediately learned that he was running a 103-degree fever. "I'm over here doing the hardest workout with the flu," Knapp said with a laugh. Beyond his early health struggles and some homesickness, Knapp explained that his transition from high school to college has been smooth. "Being an early enrollee kid and be- ing in high school about a month ago, I wouldn't say it's a hard process but it's not easy," Knapp said. "The transition for me has been really good. I love it up here. I was mentally prepared for what I was coming into." A tight end and linebacker through most of his high school career, Knapp is athletic enough to play about any posi- tion along the offensive line, and he's already getting auditions at both center and at right tackle from Irish line coach Joe Rudolph. Whatever position his coaches even- tually settle on, Knapp said he'll be ready. Confident but humble, instead of cel- ebrating himself when asked about the work and accomplishments that landed him at Notre Dame, Knapp mentioned the people who helped get him here. And that list included Robbie Roper, a former high school teammate who tragically and unexpectedly died after shoulder surgery while the two played together at Roswell. "He was always taking me under his wing," said Knapp, who wears a tattoo in memory of his fallen friend. "He just cared for everyone, and everyone loved him." Roper's death has provided Knapp a new perspective as he works to find his niche at the college level inside a deep Notre Dame position group. "I don't want to say I'm nervous for competition — I'm more excited about it," he said. "I know either way, I'm go- ing to get an opportunity. It just de- pends on what I do with it." ✦ Knapp, an On3 Top-100 prospect from Roswell (Ga.) High, was named the Region 7-6A 2023 Offensive Lineman of the Year. PHOTO COURTESY CHAD WEAVER ANTHONIE KNAPP OFFENSIVE LINEMAN 6-4 ∙ 266 ROSWELL H.S. ROSWELL, GA. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 97 5 12 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 64 73 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 69 80 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 59 79 STATISTICS • Allowed just 1 sack over his final two years, while recording 195 knockdown blocks at the same time. NOTABLE • Named the Region 7-6A 2023 Offensive Line- man of the Year. • Earned a spot on the Touchdown Club of At- lanta's first-team All-State offense in 2023. • Was a 6A Georgia Athletic Coaches Association All-State selection in 2022. • Picked first-team all-region for three consecu- tive years. • His father, Bob, played football at Youngstown State. • Also played basketball at Roswell High. RECRUITMENT • Committed to the Fighting Irish on March 29, 2023. • Enrolled at Notre Dame in January. • Picked the Irish over offers from Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Penn State and North Carolina, among others. • Recruited by offensive line coach Joe Rudolph. • Visited Notre Dame four times, including for his official visit on June 3, 2023. 2024 PROJECTION • Is likely to redshirt as a true freshman. THEY SAID IT BlueandGold.com analyst Tim Hyde: "He has a strike and punch that is violent as can be. He utilizes great leverage and his feet do not stop. Pancake after pancake — he plays with nastiness. He's a bully. He'll get after you and attack you. "I've watched Knapp's film a handful of times, and his footwork is outstanding. He uses a great kick step and has a really good pad punch. He has fantastic film and is a very good athlete." On3 director of scouting and rankings Charles Power: "He's a personal favorite of mine, espe- cially in the interior group. I really love his film. He plays left tackle at Roswell, but he projects inside long term given his physical dimensions. But there's no question he can play tackle in a pinch at Notre Dame, although that probably won't be necessary. "I love how physical he is. He moves really well and is an emphatic finisher. As Knapp continues to get bigger and stronger, he has a ton of upside. You can see him playing any of the five positions on the offensive line. I'm bullish on him and love his senior film playing against strong competition." Offensive Lineman Anthonie Knapp Is Ready To Compete