Rocco Spindler Eager to Start Notre Dame Chapter
Two years ago, Rocco Spindler set a quiet individual goal.
Win the Anvil Award.
The award from State Champs (Michigan) is voted on by experts using performance, level of competition, online voting, big-game performance, team success, and recruitment level to determine the winner.
On Thursday, Spindler found out he won the award as the organization surprised him at his house with the trophy.
"It's a blessing," Spindler told ISD. "A lot of hard work, dedication, blood, sweat and tears went into it. I went out after my sophomore year to win the award and I came in second my junior year, so I went back to the drawing board. I really tried to figure out what I could do to be a better player and a better man."
The celebration was short-lived as Spindler will arrive at Notre Dame on Saturday morning to start his collegiate career.
Moving to South Bend has been a long time coming for the four-star prospect and as you can imagine, Spindler has many emotions.
"I think every emotion is running through our heads right now," explained Spindler. "It's been a weird year due to COVID. Hopefully, we can just do in-person learning because at Notre Dame, I think online will be a challenge. The academics are the hardest in the world and having to do it by myself online, it'd be another challenge, but I'm willing to take it on to be the best.
"I'm excited. It's a new chapter of my life. I turned the page of my high school career today. I ended a chapter winning the award and now it's time to start my new part of my life."
The 6-foot-5, 320-pounder has also been putting in the work since his season ended. Spindler has big goals and made sure he's physically ready to handle the Notre Dame strength and conditioning program from day one.
"After the season, I took a good two weeks off because I was sore and tired," said Spindler. "I really went after it hard when I got back into it starting with technique. You don't really lift as much or with heavy weights during the season.
"I really started to get back into lifting shape to get me ready for college and Coach (Matt) Balis. He gets after it and that's the environment I like. I really want to come in prepared to go and have a great foundation for spring ball."
Like most freshmen, Spindler has the goal of starting, but he's also realistic about his position. The Michigan native knows he's no longer going to be the biggest or strongest player on the field and knows he has to balance expectations with reality.
"The best guys play," Spindler stated. "I don't believe it's as political as some make it sound. The best guys play on Saturday and Sunday. I have to get after it and bring a mentality that I might be a true freshman, but I'm willing to compete against the best guys and NFL Draft picks. I have to believe I'm one of those guys now and I have to have that mindset play in and play out.
"If I redshirt, then it's a great year for me to understand, learn and perform. A redshirt doesn't mean I'm not good enough and that I'm not losing a year. Look at the great players like Quenton Nelson. He redshirted and look what he's doing. It's not the end of the world. Of course, I want to start, but the coaches are going to develop me in the best way possible."
Spindler couldn't be more thrilled to live with classmate and fellow offensive lineman Blake Fisher, but he also knows he's going to miss home.
"I'm going to miss my mom for sure," said Spindler. "My dad's cool, but being with my mom is awesome. She's my best friend and the only woman in my life, especially her cooking and doing my laundry. Now, I have Blake Fisher.
"I'll miss hanging out with my parents, going to my farm and stuff like that. I'll be with a great group of guys and it's going to be my new home for four years. I'm going to make the most of it and hopefully have a great career at Notre Dame."
Prep Awards & Notes
- 2x All-American
- 1x MaxPreps All-American
- 1x Under Armour All-American
- 3x First Team All-State
- 3x Detroit Free Press All-State Dream Team
- 3x Detroit News All state Dream Team
- 3x MLive All-State Dream team
- 3x MI Prep Zone All-state team
- 3x Clarkston Hog of the Year
- 2x Team captain
- 4x OAA Red All-league
- 4x All-Region
- 2020 ANVIL AWARD CHAMPION
- 2x Anvil Award Finalist
- 2x Anvil People’s Voting Champion
- All-Time Wolf Award (Clarkston Hall of Fame)
- Retired Jersey
- Sports illustrated Preseason All-American
- 2017 High school Football State Champion
- 2018 High school Football State Runner Up
- Tom Lemming First Team All American
- Under Armour Future 50
- Started every game both ways for four years
- Top 50 National Recruit
- ESPN 300
- 0 sacks given up during his high school career
- 2017 Rookie of the year Football
- 2017 Rookie of the year Wrestling
- 2017 All-State Honorable Mention
- High school wrestling State Qualifier
- 3.5 GPA throughout high school
- Committed to Notre Dame