Schools in a rush for Wyomissing's Alex Anzalone
Major programs making pitch for All-State linebacker
Mike Drago
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Wyomissing's Alex Anzalone (24) has received 14 scholarship offers from major college football programs across the country including Ohio State and coach Urban Meyer, shown with Anzalone, at left. The Wyomissing junior has become one of the fastest-rising prospects in the nation.
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Alex Anzalone called the experience "surreal."
There he was last weekend, sitting in Urban Meyer's office, listening to Ohio State's new football coach explain to him why he should play linebacker for the Buckeyes.
"At some point in the conversation I didn't even believe I was there," said Anzalone, Wyomissing's All-State linebacker.
His visit to Columbus, Ohio, capped off a maddening two-week stretch that saw him receive 14 scholarship offers from major programs across the nation.
The latest came Wednesday, when he spoke to Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
The first, from Northwestern, came Feb. 1, National Signing Day.
On the day he was putting his first Ohio State recruiting class to bed, Meyer took time to speak to Anzalone on the phone. It was a special thrill for the Wyomissing junior, who grew up cheering for Tim Tebow and Meyer's national champion Florida Gators.
Anzalone began getting attention from Division I schools last summer, and knew that offers would be forthcoming as he approached his senior season. He never expected to become one of the fastest-rising prospects in the nation.
"It's been a whirlwind, hearing from all these big schools," he said. "It's been crazy, but also amazing at the same time.
"When I got the first couple of offers, coaches warned me that now everyone will be hopping on the bandwagon, but I didn't realize it would be this fast or this crazy."
It could get crazier.
"Once Alabama offers, I think it's gonna get crazy," Anzalone said earlier this week, before receiving the offer from Saban.
Ross Tucker, a former NFL lineman and CEO of Go Big Recruiting, a service which Anzalone employs, said Alabama rarely extends an offer to a player from Pennsylvania; that they did is an indication of how hot Anzalone's ticket is these days.
He will likely become the mostly heavily recruited football player in Berks since Chad Henne played at Wilson a decade ago.
Every day the 6-3, 220-pound linebacker prospect is greeted by Facebook friend requests from major college coaches. They can't make phone calls or send text messages at this point, so they contact their recruits through social media or emails.
His phone rings each night with reporters from Rivals.com or other recruiting websites seeking updates.
Anzalone said he expects to get an offer from Penn State this weekend when he makes a visit for Junior Day.
"I think they're waiting to do it in person," he said.
He spoke with Nittany Lions head coach Bill O'Brien on the phone last week and came away with a positive impression.
"He seems like a great guy," Anzalone said. "I'm real excited to meet him and see what he has going on at Penn State. I know he's changed a few things already, like the strength program. I'm looking to see what they offer."
Anzalone's brother, Nick, is currently a sophomore biology major at Penn State.
Anzalone said that the scandal that rocked Penn State last fall and led to the firing of head coach Joe Paterno has not negatively affected his opinion of the football program there; he said it won't be a factor in his decision.
"I know it's a solid coaching staff that Coach O'Brien has assembled, and the linebackers coach (Ron Vanderlinen) is still there," he said. "It's still 'Linebacker U.' "
Anzalone said geography or academic major will not be key factors in his ultimate decision. He's willing to go anywhere in the country, and hasn't decided on a course of study at this point.
At the top of his list of considerations?
"Definitely the academics," he said. "Academics is No. 1. I know it's a cliche, but it should be No. 1 for everyone."
He said the atmosphere around the program, and the support it receives, are important to him.
He said he would favor "a program with a rich tradition."
That's why Stanford, Notre Dame and Michigan are on his list, though none have made offers or invited him to visit.
Anzalone has no timetable yet on when he'll make official visits, or announce his final decision. He's hoping to finalize his choice before the start of the season.
"I just want to look at each school thoroughly and make up my mind," he said. "I'm not a big fan of that whole de-committing thing."
