'Let me do this for him': How teammate's memory drives Notre Dame left tackle Anthonie Knapp

Anthonie Knapp has never been a very spiritual person. But some time in 2022, he had a dream that changed his life. 

Knapp, then a junior at Roswell (Ga.) High, was sitting next to someone on a bus. That someone kept telling him, “Hey. I’m fine.” By the end of the dream, he could see his face. It was Robbie Roper, Roswell’s quarterback who had suddenly and tragically passed away in December 2021. 

Knapp woke up in tears. He was Roper’s blindside protector throughout his sophomore season, his first as a varsity starter. Roper, a senior, was like an older brother to him. 

But as Knapp collected himself, that’s when it hit him. That’s when he knew he could move on. 

“It’s this weird feeling of peace,” Knapp told Blue & Gold Illustrated. “That’s him, physically, telling me he’s fine. It’s not something I should grieve anymore.” 

Two years later, Knapp met with reporters after starting his first college game — a 23-13 win over Texas A&M in College Station, Texas — at left tackle for Notre Dame. The freshman was asked about one of his tattoos, a Dutch slogan honoring his maternal great-grandfather that translates to “Remain optimistic until you die.” 

Before answering the question, Knapp pointed to another tattoo, half-hidden by the tape on his left wrist. It’s his first tattoo. It reads, “Long Live 5.”

Five was Roper’s number. Knapp felt it’s important for people to know his name.

“Robbie was one of those guys who really helped me gain that confidence, regardless of who I’m going up against,” Knapp said. “It’s a lot of things that people can take away from. That’s why I wanted to share his story.” 

A quarterback and his left tackle

On the night of Dec. 21, 2022, Knapp and his teammates went to mass to pray for Roper. They knew he was sick, but it still didn’t feel real. They thought he was going to be OK. 

The next morning, he got the call. 

“It’s just the whole flood of emotions,” Knapp said. “That’s your guy, and you’re realizing that you’re never gonna see him again. I’ve never experienced anything like that before.” 

Eight days earlier, Roper underwent shoulder surgery. He had a rare genetic disorder that was triggered by the anesthesia, according to USA Today Sports. His father, James Roper, told the outlet doctors overlooked the condition. 

“I’ve had people in my family pass away, and I don’t think anything’s affected me like that,” Roswell head coach Chris Prewett told Blue & Gold Illustrated. 

After Roper passed, Roswell retired No. 5 from its football program. It put No. 5 on T-shirts. Prewett and several others — including Georgia State linebacker and Knapp’s friend Jayven Hall, who also has a “Long Live 5” tattoo — have a black No. 5 inside a green-and-white circle as their profile pictures on social media. In Roswell’s weight room, the strongest players work out at rack No. 5. 

Knapp himself wore No. 55 in high school. Fellow Roswell grad Corey Robinson II, who starts at left tackle for Georgia Tech, is No. 55 with the Yellow Jackets. 

Roper was a terrific high school quarterback, and he began to earn high-level college football interest toward the end of his senior year. He led the Hornets to the state quarterfinals shortly before he passed away. 

What Knapp, his coaches and his teammates remember most, though, is Roper’s character. On one play during their season together, Knapp remembers, he cramped up and went down on the field. When he opened his eyes, Roper was there to pick him up. 

“He was always thinking about other people,” Knapp said. “I think that was the coolest thing about him.” 

Roper and Knapp saw themselves as very similar, Prewett explained. They were both driven. They were both goal-oriented. They both set out to maximize their abilities on the field, and that led to a tight relationship, even though they were two grades apart. 

There was also a push, during Knapp’s sophomore season, among the Hornets to play as well as they could for Roper. They wanted to get him looks from Power Five schools, and Knapp helped lead that charge. 

“Those two were super close,” Prewett said. “The game of football gets you to where you guys can grow closer, especially someone who, you know, Anthonie is protecting Robbie at all times.” 

Knapp and Roper’s relationship was funny, as he recalls it. Knapp was a 200-pound sophomore who had recently moved from tight end and linebacker to left tackle. Roper would jokingly give him a hard time as Knapp went through the inevitable growing pains. But his faith in his offensive line never wavered. 

“He’s like, ‘Coach Vance, I’m about to get ready to sling this thing,’ and I’m like. ‘Hey, we’re gonna keep you clean.’” Vince Vance, then Roswell’s offensive line coach and a significant mentor for Knapp to this day, told Blue & Gold Illustrated. “He trusted in me as an offensive line coach. He trusted in his boys. And it showed, man, every time we stepped on the field.” 

At the time, Knapp often felt insecure because of his size and inexperience. Roper helped mitigate that. 

“That’s something he would say: He always had the confidence in me and he wouldn’t want anyone else to block for him,” Knapp said. “I think having that security, especially behind you, is super important to me.” 

Roper played behind two young tackles, with Knapp on his left side and then-freshman Andrew Stargel on his right. Knapp has “Long Live 5” tattooed on his left forearm. Stargel, who will sign with UCF in early December, has it on his right.

“It’s just something to remember him by,” Knapp said. “I like to physically see something. I feel like it kind of hits me a little bit more.” 

Playing for 5

Back in August, when Knapp first elevated to the starting lineup, he was the biggest storyline in South Bend. 

These days, he’s in what Irish offensive coordinator calls the witness protection program.

“That’s a good thing for an offensive lineman, by the way,” Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock said.

Knapp’s first start came against star Texas A&M edge rusher Nic Scourton, who got him a couple times but the freshman more than held his own. Since then, he’s started every game at left tackle and helped Notre Dame’s offensive line grow into a Joe Moore Award semifinalist. 

“Huge lane because of the left tackle, Anthonie Knapp,” radio analyst Ryan Harris (an ex-Irish and NFL offensive lineman himself) said during Notre Dame’s Week 13 win over Army. “He’s just gotten better week after week.” 

“He’s just a rock,” Denbrock said. “He’s just a rock of consistency. And every week he’s on his business. … Shows no signs of the freshman wall that some guys run into here and there and just continues to get better and better at what he’s doing.” 

As Knapp has gone through his freshman season, he carries the memory of No. 5 with him. He considers Roper a significant motivator for where he is today, both for the person he was and what he lost. 

“People always say, ‘Find your why,’” Knapp said. “I’d say he’s probably one of my ‘whys.’ Anything I can do that I know he would do is something I try to base myself off.” 

Roper’s recruitment, as his teammates had hoped, began to grow as his senior year came to an end. He received interest, according to FOX 5 Atlanta, from Florida, Ole Miss, Pittsburgh, UConn, TCU, Michigan and North Carolina. He never got to realize his dream of playing college football. Knapp did. 

For that reason, Roper is in the back of his mind whenever he steps onto the field in a blue-and-gold uniform. He also knows his quarterback would be proud of him when he does.

“I take it on myself to [say], ‘Alright, I’m fortunate enough to have this opportunity to be here where I am today,’” Knapp said. “Let me do this for him.”

Knapp said he got his first college offers shortly after dreaming about his friend. That morning, he felt like a weight was lifted off his shoulders. But he still takes Roper with him on that bus.