'13 PA ATH Alex Anzalone (Florida Early Enrollee)

[FLDomer]

At this point I almost want to play hardball with him...we dont need another Darby situation. If he is committed than why keep visiting? If he bails now, its better now than closer to february and leave us with our dicks in the wind like Darby. Sh!t or get off the pot is all Im sayen

 

[rtrn2glory]

in regards to the two teams playing...i don't think either fla. or lsu is very good compared to alabama (then again, who is).

with that said we would struggle with both of these teams.

AA's gonna give us headaches til signing day, hopefully we just keep winning and take care of our side of the bargain. really that's all we can do. if we keep winning and he de-commits we'll be a very hot commodity and maybe snag another elite prospect down the line.

just a thougt

 

[AFisch86]

I'm from PA and have seen Anzalone play against my old high school (Lancaster Catholic) last year in playoffs. It would definitely be a loss if he were to decommit. With that said, I unfortunately still believe that this will be a topic until NSD. The only reason I feel OK about our chances of keeping him is that Florida will end the year with at least 2 losses (most likely 3) and ND should have no more than 2 losses (possibly 0 after watching USC last night). Notre Dame will be playing in a BCS game and Florida will not. It should be pretty evident to Anzalone which team has more promise. Florida will not play for a NC in the near future being in the SEC (fair or not). On another note, I'm heading to the ND- Stanford game next week. Will there be any coveted recruits at the game?!

 

[ThePiombino]

At this point I almost want to play hardball with him...we dont need another Darby situation. If he is committed than why keep visiting? If he bails now, its better now than closer to february and leave us with our dicks in the wind like Darby. Sh!t or get off the pot is all Im sayen

I hear ya, but how would it make ND look if we said, "If you go to your parents' homecoming, we're pulling your offer."?

 

[jimmymac]

Ok this kinda stuff has started to bother me a little bit. If I'm a 18 year start football recruit and have the chance to go to a Florida/LSU game, where my FATHER graduated, Im probably going to take advantage of that. My dad went to BC- if I had the chance to go to a BC game during parents weekend during the Matt Ryan years I would have definitely taken them up on that! If he goes to UF and changes his mind and wants to be gator, fine, so be it. It would certainly be a loss. In a perfect world would none of our recruits take other visits and stay on ship? Of course. But we dont live in that world, and this is a situation we have no control over. Let it play out. Pulling hairs until NSD isnt going to do anything but create undue stress; fact of the matter is that were winning, and the chances of anyone jumping ship now if we continue to win are a lot lower than they were when were 2-2.

 

[PANDFAN]

Once we start winning, we won't have to worry about thi......wait, nevermind.

i get you were kidding....but it happens everywhere...FSU just had a decommit..it happens to ALL teams....even BAMA...

what was he going to say...hey dad...i know you want me to go but i can't come w/ you because im verbally committed to ND...

although on the flip side the more and more you visit a place the more it makes you feel comfortable and you build relationships w/ those around

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

When is his official to ND?

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

When is his official to ND?

The banquet. He is visiting on an unofficial for the BYU game.

My gut tells me after he visits UF it will really weigh on him and he will question if ND really is the best fit. All his UF boys will be there and they will no doubt be trying to sway him. We then use the BYU game and football banquet to seal it up.


If you haven't seen it is a very impressive visitor list and don't think that because there are so many that Alex won't get the attention. He will be with Taylor, Hargreaves, Washington, Bailey, Sherit and others the whole time. Their staff really wants him and they will make sure to make him a priority.

COMMITS
RB Kelvin Taylor, 5-11, 214, Belle Glade, Fla./Glades Day
RB Adam Lane, 5-8, 216, Winter Haven, Fla./Winter Haven
WR Alvin Bailey, 5-11, 175, Seffner, Fla./Armwood
WR Ahmad Fulwood, 6-4, 189, Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenny
WR Marqui Hawkins, 6-2, 190, Columbus, Ga./Carver
WR Chris Thompson, 6-0, 170, Gainesville, Fla./Gainesville
OL Cameron Dillard, 6-3, 290, Canton, Mich./Canton
OL Octavius Jackson, 6-4, 304, Moultrie, Ga./Colquitt County
DT Caleb Brantley, 6-3, 295, Crescent City, Fla./Crescent City
DL Joey Ivie, 6-4, 270, Dade City, Fla./Pasco
DE Jordan Sherit, 6-5, 234, Tampa, Fla./Hillsborough
LB James Hearns, 6-3, 230, Tallahassee, Fla./Lincoln
LB Daniel McMillian, 6-3, 220, Jacksonville, Fla./First Coast
LB Quinton Powell, 6-2, 200, Daytona Beach, Fla./Mainland
CB Vernon Hargreaves III, 5-11, 185, Tampa, Fla./Wharton
S Keanu Neal, 6-1, 203, Bushnell, Fla./South Sumter
S Nick Washington, 6-0, 183, Jacksonville, Fla./Trinity Christian

TARGETS
WR Marquez North, 6-3, 2o5, Charlotte, N.C./Mallard Creek
WR Demarcus Robinson, 6-2, 200, Fort Valley, Ga./Peach Country (Clemson commit)
OL Laremy Tunsil, 6-6, 295, Lake City, Fla./Columbia
LB Alex Anzalone, 6-3, 241, Wyomissing, Pa./Wyomissing (Notre Dame commit)
DT Montravius Adams, 6-3, 290, Vienna, Ga./Dooly County
S Marcell Harris, 6-1, 207, Orlando, Fla./Dr. Phillips


POSSIBLY
OL Roderick Johnson, 6-6, 316, Delray Beach, Fla./American Heritage (former UF commit)
DE DeMarcus Walker, 6-4, 280, Jacksonville, Fla./Sandalwood (Alabama commit)
DL Antonio Riles, 6-4, 267, Lawrenceville, Ga./Archer (UF commit)

* — indicates UF offer

2014 PROSPECTS
*QB Wade Freebeck, 6-3, 172, Davie, Fla./Western
*QB Will Grier, 6-3, 185, Davidson, N.C./Davidson Day
*RB Tony James, 5-10, 163, Gainesville, Fla./Gainesville
*WR Ryeshene Bronson, 6-3, 182, Fort Myers, Fla./Dunbar (UF commit)
*WR Johnnie Dixon, 6-0, 175, West Palm Beach, Fla./Dwyer
*WR Demarre Kitt, 6-0, 190, Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek (Georgia commit)
WR Moral Stephens, 6-3, 205, Perry, Fla./Taylor County
*OL Garrett Brumfield, 6-3, 275, Baton Rouge, La./University Laboratory
OL Reilly Gibbons, 6-6, 260, St. Petersburg, Fla./Catholic
DE Keyon Brown, 6-2, 228, Wauchula, Fla./Hardee Senior
*LB Kain Daub, 6-3, 249, Jacksonville, Fla./Sandalwood (LSU commit)
LB Vincent Jackson, 6-2, 230, Tampa, Fla./Jesuit
*CB Duke Dawson, 5-11, 184, Cross City, Fla./Dixie County
*CB Jalen Tabor, 6-1, 175, Washington, D.C./Friendship Collegiate Academy
CB Kendall Randolph, 5-11, 173, Tallahassee, Fla./Lincoln
*S Nick Glass, 6-1, 195, Atlanta, Ga./St Pius X School (Georgia commit)
*S T.J. Harrell, 6-1, 210, Tampa, Fla./Tampa Catholic
*ATH Jalen Hurd, 6-3, 210, Hendersonville, Tenn./Beech Senior

 

[Irish YJ]

Not worried. I do hope LSU pounds the Gators though...

 

[Chris P. Bacon]

The banquet. He is visiting on an unofficial for the BYU game.

My gut tells me after he visits UF it will really weigh on him and he will question if ND really is the best fit. All his UF boys will be there and they will no doubt be trying to sway him. We then use the BYU game and football banquet to seal it up.

I disagree completely and my gut feeling tells me it's too late for UF. His biggest swing from UF to ND was the fact that when he visited florida none of the recruits were there to support him or sway him in picking UF, when a lot of our recruits and players were all there with open arms when he visited ND. So now, all of a sudden because the recruits are going to be there when he is, he's going to flip? I'd take that as a slap in the face if I were him. 'Oh so now that I'm commited to ND now all these recruits are showing up at campus to sway me, where were these guys when I visited before' . And wasn't he also considering PSU and their graduate program, so obviously Academics is a huge factor for him too, which again, ND has the upperhand on that over UF.


And with that HUGE list of recruits visting, how does anyone become a priority over another?

 

[Emcee77]

Alex has been to Florida a ton. He's been to ND twice and has been full ND. He talks with Florida coaches because he is close with them. This trip I doubt would change his mind or anything. It's not like he isn't going to see anything he hasn't seen before. I am still waiting for ND mods to confirm this. The Florida mod is kind of a dope.

I agree. I won't be shocked if he flips but I don't expect him to. He may want to go to erase any lingering doubt (which means there is always a chance the doubt wins out and he does flip) but I think this trip is mostly about fun.

Anthony Barr was a lifelong ND fan who chose UCLA. Anzalone is a lifelong UF fan who will choose ND

 

[L-cart ND-ana]

An all inclusive trip to a Gators/Tigers game.....count me in too!!!!

 

[OCIrish]

Well, until something happens with his recruiting, I'm not going to worry, hell, even if he does end up decommiting, I'm not going to lose the first wink of sleep over it. I would hope that none of you would either......

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

I disagree completely and my gut feeling tells me it's too late for UF. His biggest swing from UF to ND was the fact that when he visited florida none of the recruits were there to support him or sway him in picking UF, when a lot of our recruits and players were all there with open arms when he visited ND. So now, all of a sudden because the recruits are going to be there when he is, he's going to flip? I'd take that as a slap in the face if I were him. 'Oh so now that I'm commited to ND now all these recruits are showing up at campus to sway me, where were these guys when I visited before' . And wasn't he also considering PSU and their graduate program, so obviously Academics is a huge factor for him too, which again, ND has the upperhand on that over UF.


And with that HUGE list of recruits visting, how does anyone become a priority over another?

I missed the part where I said he would flip.

An all inclusive trip to a Gators/Tigers game.....count me in too!!!!

It's an unofficial but different circumstances than normal.

 

[Chris P. Bacon]

I missed the part where I said he would flip.



It's an unofficial but different circumstances than normal.

Maybe you didn't say he would flip, but you seemed concerned, where I'm not concerned.

 

[tko]

i still haven't counted him in with our current recruits, so have fun kid.

 

[GBdomer]

Maybe you didn't say he would flip, but you seemed concerned, where I'm not concerned.

I Am concerned. You don't have to be but BK was pissed about FNL how do you think he took this one? He's finally meeting all Floridas commits and he really did try and keep this visit hush hush but it didn't work. I am honestly not sure where he is going to end off base on something I was told last night. It's just we have a game Saturday too and he's going to Florida. More concerned than I was last night.

 

[woolybug25]

I know that I am probably in the minority here, and I fully understand his ranking as a prospect, but I really don't care anymore. If he ends up Irish, great. If he ends up at UF, have fun kid.

We'll be fine either way.

 

[tko]

I Am concerned. You don't have to be but BK was pissed about FNL how do you think he took this one? He's finally meeting all Floridas commits and he really did try and keep this visit hush hush but it didn't work. I am honestly not sure where he is going to end off base on something I was told last night. It's just we have a game Saturday too and he's going to Florida. More concerned than I was last night.

I know he's a good athlete and it's recruiting, but I would hope Kelly isn't held hostage this cycle. I believe he learned some valuable lessons in dealing with the 2012 class.

 

[Ndaccountant]

Is Florida recruiting him as a LB or HB?

 

[woolybug25]

Is Florida recruiting him as a LB or HB?

They said that they would take him as a LB.



Like I said, I hope he either stays committed or rip the band-aid off. No more visits after this one. I want BK to tell him that we cant worry about if he is going to sign or not. There are a lot of LB's in this cycle that would kill to play with our current class.

 

[tko]

They said that they would take him as a LB.



Like I said, I hope he either stays committed or rip the band-aid off. No more visits after this one. I want BK to tell him that we cant worry about if he is going to sign or not. There are a lot of LB's in this cycle that would kill to play with our current class.

Amen Wooly, I like your style.

 

[Emcee77]

They said that they would take him as a LB.

Like I said, I hope he either stays committed or rip the band-aid off. No more visits after this one. I want BK to tell him that we cant worry about if he is going to sign or not. There are a lot of LB's in this cycle that would kill to play with our current class.

I'm leaning this way too. Part of me says that he's a great athlete and I don't want to drive him away by taking too hard a line, but the thing is we really need two ILBs in this class, or else in 2014 it's just Grace, Moore, Deeb and any incoming frosh ... I'd like two backups who have a year of college under their belts, not just one. So I really hope if he's gonna decommit he does it now so we can get back involved with Trey Johnson or full-court-press Savaiinea (I think we are already doing that) or do whatever we need to do so we have two ILBs on signing day.

 

[Bobias]

I know he's a good athlete and it's recruiting, but I would hope Kelly isn't held hostage this cycle. I believe he learned some valuable lessons in dealing with the 2012 class.

Yeah that's why I think that we are still recruiting Savineaa (sp?). BK doesn't want to be left high and dry on NSD, and I think that he sees that AA is a bit iffy and giving off the same vibes as those decommits from '12. I'm not worried though, AA is a great player, but if he does flip then I don't see it being nearly as detrimental to our overall recruiting effort as losing Darby and Tee were to last years cycle.

 

[NDdomer2]

I am pretty sure he met the majority of their recruits at Friday Night Lights, so this isn't the first time he will have hung out with them. It also isn't like no Florida recruits were at any of the camps he attended this summer.

Again his Dad was in support of him choosing ND, we have known he wanted to go to this game for a while.

Certainly not losing sleep.

 

[Emcee77]

Ugh, now Sapp is saying there's a chance Anzalone may use an official to Florida in December ... it is looking more and more like he is undecided ...

 

[PraetorianND]

Ugh, now Sapp is saying there's a chance Anzalone may use an official to Florida in December ... it is looking more and more like he is undecided ...

BK needs to put the hammer down. Too many guys in line for someone to not take their commitment seriously.

 

[Luckylucci]

I tend to agree on their not being many other inside linebackers of his quality ready to jump on board. But I have stated this before I think its going to be extremely tough for any new mike linebackers to beat out Grace. He seems to be exactly what the staff wants. And he has 3 years after this one to play. With that said still want Anzalone in the worst way.

 

[PraetorianND]

Who are they, at ILB? There's Trey Johnson, who we've told we are full; might be able to get back involved. There is Savaiinea, who we haven't stopped recruiting, possibly because we like him at another position. Not sure where things stand with Victor Egu; he might be our best option if Anzalone flips. But I don't think there are ILB recuits ready to jump on board right away. Like GB said, this is not a position we've recruited well the last couple of cycles (though Grace was a home run).

You just named all the guys I was thinking of. I agree they are probably not ready to jump on board right now. So the "in line" comment was probably a little presumptive.

 

[yankeeND]

You know this is the kind of stuff that makes recruiting so fun and gut wrenching at the same time. Alex will be one to watch all the way through signing day. To me he is very important to the program and is the type of athlete that will help us continue to move the best foot forward. Certainly is a story to keep our eyes on but just want everyone to enjoy the season and worry more about the games than recruiting. This season is off to a special start and I want nothing more than for that to continue tomorrow night!