2024 Notre Dame OL Commit Anthonie Knapp Ready For Senior Season

Anthonie Knapp‍ is expecting big things in his last season with the Roswell (Ga.) High School football program.

“We have a lot of returning talent coming back, especially on the offensive line,” he says. “We're all a lot bigger, a lot stronger, a lot faster.

“In my sophomore year, when I first started on varsity, we lost in the second round. Then this past year we lost in the semifinals, so this is going to be the year that I think we could make it to State and win it. We have a different attitude, a whole lot of confidence, and I think we can get it done. I just haven't seen the energy like this before, so I'm looking forward to it.”

Knapp says consistency and developing depth will be keys for the squad this season.

And the 2024 Notre Dame offensive line commit will be putting a lot on his own shoulders.

“One of my personal goals is to up my football IQ a lot, be a student of the game,” he says. “Basically just ball out like I normally do, probably dump people a little bit quicker because I've got that weight behind me, but just be fundamentally sound, keep my technique fundamentally sound and just kind of use that new weight for me, keep that same aggression but nothing over the top.”

The 6-foot-5 Knapp says he’s gone from around 240 pounds at the end of last season to about 275 entering this year.

“A whole bunch of good weight,” he says. “I've been working pretty hard in the weightroom. It's been some solid weight. All my numbers have gotten bigger, stronger, faster. So I'm pretty excited.

“I've always been a skinny kid. Freshman year, I was 170. It was just staying consistent, just stay hardworking, have that discipline. I wouldn't take more than three days off and that was for my official visit. It wasn't really too hard for me once I learned that discipline and consistency. I always had that motivation. It was there before I knew it.”

Knapp added the weight in consult with his future position coach at Notre Dame, Joe Rudolph, who isn’t as concerned with the number of pounds added.

“Coach Rudolph says to worry about the numbers in the weightroom, not on the scale, stacking on weight the right way,” says Knapp. “One of the main reasons I've been recruited for him, whether it was at Virginia Tech and now it's at Notre Dame, was my versatility and my ability to play quick and play fast and be an athlete.

“I think they're going to play me as a five-position player. They're going to use me anywhere, so whatever it takes to get on the field. I'm just trying to be an athlete, be strong and not gain that bad weight. That's one of his main key points is that he always emphasizes towards me.”

Knapp is hoping to be back in South Bend for a game next month, but either way, he knows he’ll be moving there sooner than later.

“I'm going to try to make it for the Ohio State game because I know a whole bunch of the boys are going up,” he says. “But if not, maybe after my season because I don't really have that much time. But I know I'm early enrolling, so worst case scenario, the next time I'll be up there I'll be an early enrollee.”

Knapp and the other members of the Irish’s 2024 recruiting class are already cementing relationships.

“We've got a big group chat with all the commits. We talk on it pretty consistently. They're all good kids. I can't wait to play with them. They've got some good competition on there too, so I'm excited. We've got a lot of early graduates too, so I'm just looking forward to it.

“We've got some pretty good relationships, especially with the offensive line, CJ (Carr), all the running backs, all the receivers.”

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