Looks like it’s the era of teenage superstars in college football! Just look at the 18-year-old freshman Anthonie Knapp from Roswell. This four-star prospect, according to On3, made his brave collegiate debut for Notre Dame against the Aggies, despite the loss. And the 6’4, 294-pound offensive lineman left a lasting impression on offensive line coach Joe Rudolph that day.

As soon as Joe Rudolph became the offensive line coach at Notre Dame, he made 2024 Roswell (Ga.) High School offensive lineman Knapp his top recruiting target, and made him commit to the Fighting Irish on March 29th. This turned out to be an interesting process for Notre Dame fans and supporters. The freshman was a player who was not previously on the Irish radar, but clearly Rudolph had other plans for Knapp.

Well, all the hype because Knapp’s football journey was quite impressive, starting in high school under head coach Chris Prewett, where he earned four varsity letters. After his standout performances, he joined Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish as one of the top prospects. His talent earned him a spot in the Army All-American Bowl and a place on the preseason Atlanta Constitution All-State team as a senior.

Before committing to Notre Dame, Knapp showed his potential at Roswell High School. As a junior, he earned an All-State honorable mention, with his team finishing first in the region during both his junior and senior years. Over his final two seasons, he only allowed one sack and recorded an impressive 195 knockdowns.

“Knapp has gotten a lot bigger and he can still run,” said Roswell’s strength and conditioning coach Ronnie Jankovich. Now, playing at Notre Dame Stadium, he’s set to be a force against the opposition’s defense. Jankovich added, “Knapp is the meanest dude on the field and the nicest guy off of it.” And based on his 2024 season so far, it’s clear we’re seeing that toughness in action.

Anthonie Knapp getting better day by day

Knapp is improving since his debut against Texas A&M, where he managed to play all 67 offensive snaps and even had an integral role in the team’s two rushing touchdowns. Despite settling in nicely, it was not all a cakewalk. Knapp was responsible for two penalties during the game. These penalties, a false start, and a hold, unfortunately, eliminated any chance of scoring points before halftime. But these are mistakes he’s deemed to make. But It didn’t take long for the Left Tackle to shine in the offensive line, where he started and got his first W in the bag against Purdue. There seems no slowing down for the ex-Roswell boy.

Knapp enjoyed tremendous physical growth this off-season. The Irish offensive linesman gained 40 pounds, all while improving his test numbers and getting faster than before. Which is the most impressive part. And his most recent victory came against Louisville, where he earned the start on the offensive line and played all 57 snaps. Must’ve brought out his camera for this one!

The talented young man will definitely be one to watch when his team plays Stanford on Saturday, October 12th, at 3:30 PM. With starting left tackle Charles Jagusah injured, the Irish may have found a good replacement in this freshman. Joe Rudolph might have gotten ahead of the curve.

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