Alex Anzalone Commits to Notre Dame: What Did We Learn from His Recruitment?

Yesterday, the recruitment of 4-star and highly touted LB Alex Anzalone of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania came to a full circle completion.

Anzalone committed to Notre Dame, and became the Irish's 17th commitment in what is shaping up to be a very good 2013 recruiting class. Specifically, Anzalone will form a daunting duo with 5-star OLB prospect Jaylon Smith.

The pair should mix well together and make a ton of stops in South Bend. However, there's more that goes into Anzalone's recruiting story.

We all know that Anzalone committed to Ohio State in the spring, only to quickly de-commit from the Buckeyes after coming in contact with a registered sex offender on an unofficial visit to Columbus during spring ball.

Yet, there's something to be learned from this, especially if you are Ohio State. This has to teach you that even though your recruiting practices and on-campus recruiting coordination is thorough, it has to be more tight.

The Irish and Buckeyes are not big time arch rivals, but they are two Midwestern powers that battle over many of the same recruits year in and year out.

Losing a key prospect like Anzalone to a recruiting rival is a blow to the Buckeyes. Anzalone's story surely shows that we may be entering the era where private security and off-duty police may be added to the recruiting process.

Recruits need protection, not just from situations that happened in the Alex Anzalone visit, but also from other students that are jealous or bitter towards the fame that the media (myself included) give these 17-18 years old teenage football players.

Tightening up visits and security may be the difference in landing a stud recruit or not, and the Buckeyes surely understand this now.

Recruits often mention and speak about feeling comfortable on a visit to each school they check out. A big part of and foundational feeling of being comfortable is feeling safe.

Anzalone de-committed from Ohio State because he didn't feel comfortable after coming in contact with a sex offender. That was a direct threat to his safety.

All schools should use this situation as means for reviewing their on-campus recruiting structure and process. Beefing up security should be a priority and any legal measures that show a recruit they will be safe at their school and program should be taken. 

We also learned that Notre Dame is not sulking in their sorrows from a bad ending to their 2012 recruiting cycle. The Irish have a top-10 class right now and Brian Kelly and his staff are using the Notre Dame tradition as a rallying cry this year.

From Jaylon Smith to Isaac Rochell to Hunter Bivin and more, recruits are being sold on the tradition and mystique of the Irish program, along with the top notch academics that Notre Dame provides as a university.

Landing Anzalone is just another testament to that point. Hopefully Notre Dame, Ohio State and all schools will continue to work in ensuring safety and well being as key components to hosting prospective student athletes for recruiting visits.

Edwin Weathersby has worked in scouting/player personnel departments for three professional football teams, including the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns and the Las Vegas Gladiators of the Arena League. He spent a year evaluating prep prospects & writing specific recruiting and scouting content articles for Student Sports Football (now ESPN Rise-HS). A syndicated scout and writer, he's also contributed to WeAreSC.com, GatorBait.net and Diamonds in the Rough Inc., a College Football and NFL Draft magazine.