Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Recruiting Notes • Inside linebacker Alex Anzalone of Reading (Pa.) Wyomissing High, who is verbally committed to Notre Dame, fielded a call from Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer, which naturally caused concern among Irish fans considering he was previously committed to the Buckeyes. Anzalone shared that the call was mainly to check in and say hello, but the former Irish assistant did ask about where he stood on his commitment to Notre Dame, and the four-star player replied that he is solid. If there was a program to watch in this race it would be Florida, where Anzalone’s father, Sal, went to school. Anzalone is considering an official visit to Gainesville when the Gators host LSU on Oct. 6. There hasn’t been any signs pointing toward a change in his commitment with the touted prospect remaining in contact with Notre Dame and other commits in the class, but he’s the only pledge at this point that looks to be considering a visit elsewhere. He does plan on returning to South Bend on an unofficial visit, however, with a targeted date being Oct. 20 for the BYU game. Anzalone is rated by 247Sports as the No. 5 outside linebacker in the land, the No. 4 player in Pennsylvania and the No. 43 overall prospect in the country. • Ramsey (N.J.) Don Bosco Prep outside linebacker/defensive end Alquadin Muhammad continues to label Notre Dame as one of the schools he’d like to which he'd like to take an official visit. He has yet to schedule any, but made an unofficial visit to Colorado — which is where his former teammate, cornerback Yuri Wright, plays — for the opening week of the 2012 college football season. The No. 5 strongside defensive end, No. 3 player in New Jersey and the No. 86 overall player in the land according to 247Sports does have a connection to Notre Dame as well, through freshman safety Elijah Shumate, who attended Don Bosco Prep. • Cornerback MacKensie Alexander of Immokalee (Fla.) High took his recruitment a step further as he publicly stated that Notre Dame is his “clear-cut leader” to BamaOnLine.com (247Sports' Alabama affiliate). The process isn’t over by any means, with Notre Dame continuing to work hard to land the touted cornerback and former Tennessee commit. Assistants Tony Alford, Kerry Cooks and Bob Elliott were all in contact with Alexander after he named the Irish his leader. Alexander has a strong relationship with Irish tight end commit Mike Heuerman, but programs like Clemson and Florida State will continue to try to make a push here and sway his attention in a different direction as his recruitment moves forward. Alexander is rated by 247Sports as the No. 4 cornerback in the land, the No. 7 player in Florida and the No. 27 overall player in the nation. • Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) High cornerback Chris Hawkins remains committed to USC, but he has Oct. 13 circled on his calendar to attend the Notre Dame-Stanford game in South Bend for an official visit — the only visit he’s targeting at this stage of his recruitment. While Notre Dame remains high on other targets at the position that currently aren’t committed to other schools, the nation’s No. 9 cornerback, No. 8 player in California and No. 89 overall prospect in the land according to 247Sports is the type of talent that the coaching staff can’t overlook if they have an opportunity to get him. Hawkins’s and USC’s interest in each other is mutually strong, but Notre Dame is in contention if he looks towards other programs with a remaining need at the cornerback position in the 2013 recruiting class. — Jason Sapp Commitment Updates • LB Alex Anzalone: Wyomissing (1-0) toppled Schuylkill Haven, 37-0, to open its 2012 campaign … Racked up 28 yards and a touchdown on five carries, had two punt returns for a total of 67 yards and made three tackles in just one quarter of action. Next game — Conrad Weiser (1-0) • OL Hunter Bivin: Apollo (1-2) notched its first victory of the season with a 20-7 triumph over Daviess County. Next game — Henderson County (2-1) • WR Justin Brent (2014): Speedway (2-1) smoked Beech Grove 54-21 to get back in the win column … Reeled in four catches for 114 yards and a touchdown. Next game — Cardinal Ritter (3-0) • DB Devin Butler: Gonzaga (2-0) defeated McDonough 33-13 … Compiled three tackles and a pass deflection … Also made three catches for 64 yards, two of which set up scores. Next game — St. Joseph’s Prep [Philadelphia] (1-0) • LB Michael Deeb: American Heritage (2-0) pounded Clewiston 48-6 … Totaled nine tackles in just one half of play. Next game — Bolles (1-0) • OL Steven Elmer Jr.: Midland (2-0) used a balanced attack of 148 yards rushing and 198 yards passing to beat Davison 31-20. Next game — Heritage (0-2) • Athlete Will Fuller: Roman Catholic (1-0) finished with a narrow 28-27 win versus Malvern Prep after scoring twice in the fourth quarter and blocking an extra point in the same period to hang on to the lead. Next game — Downington East (1-0) • TE Mike Heuerman: Barron Collier (1-0) shut out Braddock 27-0 … Not used often in the passing game with team switching to a triple-option offense in 2012, but recorded seven tackles as a defensive end. Next game — Westminster Christian (1-0) • RB Jamel James: Cinco Rancho (1-0) opened up its season with a 34-6 win over Cypress Ranch … Carried the ball four times for 97 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown run, and added a 43-yard receiving score on a swing pass, prior to tweaking his knee/hamstring during the contest … Expects to sit out for a few weeks and is awaiting results of an MRI to learn the extent of the injury. Next game — Cy-Ridge (0-0) • LB Danny Mattingly: Mead Senior (1-0) cruised to a 43-10 win over University … Notched eight tackles, two sacks and an interception, which he brought back for a score. Next game — North Central (0-1) • DL Jacob Matuska: Bishop Hartley (2-0) crushed Columbus Academy, 42-7 … Registered five tackles and an interception … Reeled in a 20-yard catch. Next game — East Knox (2-0) • OL Colin McGovern: Lincoln-Way West (1-1) recorded its first win of the season by topping Lincoln-Way Central, his old stomping grounds, 27-9. Next game — Thornridge (0-2) • WR James Onwualu: Cretin-Derham Hall (1-0) defeated East Ridge, 34-24 … Compiled 246 all-purpose yards, including a 45-yard touchdown reception and a 94-yard interception return for a score. Next game — Mount View (1-0) • WR Corey Robinson: San Antonio Christian (0-1) suffered a 28-14 loss against St. Michael … Caught nine passes for 145 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown grab. Next game — Navarro (1-1) • DL Isaac Rochell: Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy (1-1) beat Briarwood Christian 32-7 … Defense held the opponent to only 10 rushing yards on 25 carries despite Rochell not being available for half of the contest after breaking his hand … Expects to be out for a few weeks at most. Next game — Clinch County (1-1) • LB Jaylon Smith: Bishop Luers (2-1) hammered South Side 31-6 … Scored three touchdowns. Next game — Whitmer of Toledo, Ohio (2-0) • QB Malik Zaire: Archbishop Alter (2-0) posted a 49-21 win against Guerin Catholic of Noblesville, Ind. … Completed 6 of 7 passes for 142 yards with three touchdowns … Added two rushing scores. Next game — Napoleon (2-0)