Notre Dame football lands commitment from 2024 OL Anthonie Knapp

It didn’t take long for Roswell (Ga.) High class of 2024 offensive lineman Anthonie Knapp to go from a recruit without an offer to being on the Notre Dame commitment list.

He picked up an offer from the Irish March 24 during a campus visit, and just five days later, Knapp announced his pledge to the Fighting Irish.

“I love Notre Dame,” Knapp told Blue & Gold Saturday. “My family and I are so pumped up. It’s been a great day.”

The rising senior prospect informed Irish head coach Marcus Freeman of his commitment Saturday around 3 p.m. ET and declared it Wednesday.

The 6-4, 265-pounder ranks as the nation’s No. 41 offensive tackle and the No. 69 player from the state of Georgia according to On3. Penn State, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Duke, Missouri and Louisville were among his other scholarship offers.

Knapp is Notre Dame’s ninth commitment of the 2024 class and the second offensive lineman, joining Malvern (Pa.) Prep’s Peter Jones.

Knapp breaks down Notre Dame decision

Going into the visit, Knapp was feeling “optimistic” that he’d pick up an offer from the Fighting Irish. New Notre Dame offensive line coach Joe Rudolph started contacting his father, which Knapp took as a good sign.

Knapp woke up Friday eager to get to the Irish Athletics Center for practice. His parents? They wanted to sleep in a bit more — and understandably so after a day of travel. Knapp’s day got started at the crack of dawn as he walked over from his on-campus hotel to the facility for practice.

“When I stepped in that door at 6:30, I knew where I wanted to go,” Knapp explained. “It just felt so right. Recruits will say that when you go to a college, you know when it feels right. Notre Dame just felt right.

“The stars aligned. As soon as I got the offer, the final box was checked.”

What exactly was the feeling for Knapp that made it clear Notre Dame was the best choice for him?

“The best I can explain it is when I sat in that team meeting and offensive line room, I forgot I was a recruit,” he answered. “I was so focused on the meeting and I was like, ‘Oh wait, I’m not a player.’ I felt like I was getting ready to put on a jersey and practice.”

Back on Oct. 19, 2022, Knapp picked up an offer from Virginia Tech, while Rudolph was on staff there. And at the end of January — a few weeks before Rudolph officially joined the Irish staff — Knapp visited the Hokies and spent time with Rudolph during that trip.

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“I’ve built a strong connection with Coach Rudolph,” Knapp noted. “He gave me my first Power Five offer when he was back at Virginia Tech. I’ve known him for almost a year now.”

Knapp already thinks highly of the rest of the Irish staff, too.

“All the coaches were super personable,” he said. “They were straight up with me and showed me exactly how it’s going to be like in college.

“It was a different level of connection. Other schools may tell you what you want to hear, but that’s not how it is at Notre Dame. They tell you want you need to hear.”

What position Knapp will play at the next level is to be determined. He’s listed as an offensive tackle, but his listed size of 6-4, 265 pounds is not typical for that position at Notre Dame. Still he could play there, as well as any position on the Irish offensive line.

“I’ve done research on their recruiting previously, and they like big 6-6, 300-pound offensive tackles out of high school, and that’s not who I am,” he explained. “I’m 6-4, but in talking to Coach Rudolph, he cares about tackles who can move, are fast and good with their weight — and that’s what makes me unique. I can move, and I’m super aggressive.

“He sees me as an offensive tackle. Obviously, if I move to a different position, I’ll do whatever it takes to get on the field. But coming in, he’s going to put me at offensive tackle.”

When asked to give more information about himself, Knapp wanted to direct the spotlight away from him. Rather, he wanted to talk about the people who have helped him along in his career. He singled out Robbie Roper, a teammate of his who tragically passed away in 2021 due to a rare genetic disorder.

“I don’t think I could have gotten to where I am without him,” said Knapp.

The Anthonie Knapp file

As a sophomore in 2021, Knapp was named to the Georgia Region 5-7A All-Region football first-team offense.

Knapp, who was a team captain as a junior, reports that he totaled 81 knockdowns during his 2022 season. He was listed on the Georgia Region 5-6A All-Region football first-team offense. Knapp also made it to the 2022 Atlanta Journal-Constitution Fulton County first-team offense.