Junior Day Preview: An Interview With Class of 2013 PA LB Alex Anzalone
by Jeff Junstrom on Feb 15, 2012 6:00 AM EST
in Recruiting
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PrintPicking up new offers at an almost daily clip, Wyomissing (PA) linebacker Alex Anzalone is simply taking it all in. He'll be at Penn State's upcoming Junior Day, where he hopes to finally land a scholarship offer from the NIttany Lions. The 6-3, 225-pound linebacker has recently pulled in offers from Florida, Ohio State, and Michigan State.
Clocking a 4.54 40-time, Alex is the type of player that can cover a lot of space in a short amount of time. With Penn State looking to take at least 2 or 3 linebackers in the Class of 2013, Anzalone is one name to keep an early eye on, and with his recent contact with some other top Pennsylvania recruits, he could be an important one for the Nittany Lions.
Black Shoe Diaries: What level of contact has Penn State had with you? Have you spoken with any of the staff members, or have any been by your school?
Alex Anzalone: I've received personal emails from Coach Butler, had a conversation on the phone with Coach Butler and Vanderlinden, as well as a handwritten letter from Coach Butler. I've talked both Coach Butler and Vanderlinden about my potential to play at LBU.
BSD: Do you have any visits planned to Penn State, or anywhere else, in the near future or over the summer?
AA: I'm going to the junior day on the 18th. I'm planning on visiting Ohio State the 12th (ed.: Alex and I spoke before last weekend, obviously. He did, in fact, visit Ohio State, and walked away with an offer), and also Wake Forest, Duke, and Syracuse. During spring break, I'll be visiting Northwestern and hopefully Michigan State and Purdue. I plan on visiting UCLA, USC, and Stanford this summer.
BSD: How did your season go last year?
AA: My team had an undefeated regular season. We made it to the the District 3 Championship but lost to the eventual state champions by one touchdown. I received first team All-County and All-State LB and first team All-Section both ways.
BSD: Finally, what kind of timeline do you have for your recruitment? Will you take your time and announce during or after your senior season, or do you think you'll commit during the summer (or even before)?
AA: As far as my commitment goes, I want to look at each school thoroughly first. I'm not sure when this will be for sure.
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I love the fact that he referred to us as LBU
the one, the only. Even recruits see this.
Fire Dan Snyder
Yes!
The standard is high, and I like that kids measure themselves against the other great LBs that have played for Penn State.
Commit to Penn State, and try to add your name to the list of distinguished players, Alex. Good luck in your decision-making!
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
by PSU_Lions_84 on Feb 15, 2012 9:13 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah, that was a nice sign
He clearly knows that linebackers are kinda our thing. Hopefully that will factor heavily into his decision.
"Believe deep down in your heart that you're destined to do great things."
He sounds like a PSU player
Boy I think Alex would be a perfect player for PSU. He should be a top priority for BOB and staff. I am a little surprised that 1) he hasn’t received an offer yet from PSU ( unless I missed that ) and 2) that BOB has called him or written him a letter yet. Curious I think. Anyway, Alex if your reading this to Quote JoePa," COME TO PENN ST !"
The only conceivable reason that he doesn't have an offer yet from PSU..
..is that he’ll get one this weekend, in person. It’s the same thing OSU and MSU did to him last weekend. And I like it. That little extra personal touch goes a long way.
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Success With Honor
by Jeff Junstrom on Feb 15, 2012 9:23 AM EST up reply actions
I agree with that.
This guy sounds like he should be lining up next to Plonski.
The kid looks like a player
Big, powerful stride, moves well in space, good instincts. Here’s to hoping he enjoys his visit this weekend and becomes one of a long line of great PSU LBs someday.
You guys are doing an excellent job keeping us informed.
I have a question that has crossed my time many times reading these interviews. Where do you see yourselves in performing these interviews? Do you do your very best to hold yourselves to the same neutral journalistic standards as any other writer? Or do you feel it can be a little bit more fun and “PSU-centric”. From a consumer perspective, I think there is an appetite for recruiting writers are unabashedly pro-PSU.
Personally, I would have a near impossible time not expressing my love for my alma mater. Although I am guessing that might hurt your chances at scoring future interviews? Just something I’m curious about on this new endeavor.
"Today we have experienced a great loss. This loss is incomparable to what we gained from coach Paterno." - Mike Wallace
It's not hard to separate fandom from genuine journalistic intrigue all while maintaining journalistic integrity.
We make it known at the outset what our audience is, so the interviewee is aware there will be a PSU slant on the questions (the types of questions asked, not us asking leading PSU questions).
Some kids give answers that, as a fan, you’re disappointed in, but you can’t blame them for not having interest…not everyone is going to come to Penn State. Additionally, some kids are tough to get info out of, so you have to ask 100 more questions, while others (like the one Jared is currently finishing up that we both worked on) give you tons of information and you have to pick and choose.
It’s been fun to cover so far, which is why we brought on additional staff. Hopefully we’ll have some more reactions after Junior Day (I’ve already got at least two lined up for next week, and hopefully the other guys have some good interviews as well).
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Black Shoe Diaries
SBN - Pittsburgh
Success With Honor
by Jeff Junstrom on Feb 15, 2012 9:54 AM EST up reply actions
Neutral as you can be, like Mark May!
just kidding
"It doesn't matter what people think of me," Joe said. "I've lived my life. I just hope the truth comes out. And I hope the victims find peace."
I thought it was the 0-11-0...
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Black Shoe Diaries
SBN - Pittsburgh
Success With Honor
by Jeff Junstrom on Feb 15, 2012 9:47 AM EST up reply actions
Opposing offenses would cease to function
soley out of fear.
I'm on the Internet cause I'm an Internet thug.
#OccupyESPN
Follow @134Lounge
Friday morning we'll have our Recruiting Roundup post.
In that will be as good a list as we can confirm. In the meantime, check out our buds over at VBR, who have been maintaining a pretty good list.
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Black Shoe Diaries
SBN - Pittsburgh
Success With Honor
by Jeff Junstrom on Feb 15, 2012 12:20 PM EST up reply actions
His running style reminds me of Cappy.
Joseph V. Paterno has left an impression on my soul that wil never, EVER go away.
wyomissing in da haus
yeah. bob wolfrum and the wyo spartans haven’t churned out many top level college or nfl people but have always been a good high school team nolan mccready walked on at psu from wyo. matt lytle and ross tucker played in the nfl.
i wouldn’t mind him being an RB, either, cause i wasn’t sure that his running style would allow him to be a good linebacker, but he tackles well – hopefully he can be coached up to take more controlled strides when playing defense
Please please please get this guy
Success With honor
by ICEICETHATGUY13 on Feb 15, 2012 4:53 PM EST reply actions
The play in the flat at 3:55
is something I saw Poz do a lot of…and this kid’s got that same kind of “it”, in my opinion.
I’m by no means a scout or anything, but I read enough scouting reports to at least speak a little of the language and know what kind of things impress them. This kid has a lot to like – looks like a long-limbed, fluid athlete (I don’t know if he plays basketball, but the way he moves on the field makes me think he’d be pretty nasty), he does not have any problems in coverage, has good instincts, great closing speed, and a bit of a mean streak (watch how he ends some of those tackles). I’m excited to see him making all kinds of plays at Penn State.
"We gon' get down. We gon' do the do. I'm going to hit these mother****ers" - Dock Ellis, May 1, 1974.
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