LB Alex Anzalone Decommits from Notre Dame to Enroll Early at Florida

Alex Anzalone, a 4-star recruit according to 247Sports and the site's fifth-ranked outside linebacker, has decommitted from Notre Dame and will attend Florida instead.

From Irish Illustrated:

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Rivals100 LB Alex Anzalone has de-committed from #NotreDame, plans to enroll early at #Florida. Details ($): bit.ly/VRYUT6

— Irish Illustrated (@NDatRivals) January 10, 2013"

Eric F. Elper of PennLive.com has more details on the linebacker prospect and his many accomplishments this season:

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On Tuesday, MaxPreps unveiled its 2012 All-American Team with Wyomissing linebacker Alex Anzalone and Clairton jack-of-all-trades Tyler Boyd leading the way. Both were named to the first team defense.

Anzalone, the Sports Writers Class AA Player of the Year, led the Spartans to a PIAA championship in December. The 6-3, 225-pound Notre Dame recruit registered more than 100 tackles and added nearly 1,500 rushing yards and over 30 touchdowns.

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So don't expect him to hit the turf if he intercepts a pass or scoops up a fumble—chances are, he'll be looking to take it to the house.

I don't want to draw too many conclusions or squint for too long at the tea leaves, but you have to wonder if this has anything to do with Notre Dame's head coach Brian Kelly interviewing with the Philadelphia Eagles on Wednesday.

Oh, what's that? I'm not the only one wondering or even speculating the same thing? Mike Farrell of Rivals is actually reporting that as the very reason for his decommitment?

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Alex Anzalone will enroll at #Florida tomorrow, he is de-committed from #NotreDame due to the Brian Kelly interview w Eagles.

— Mike Farrell (@rivalsmike) January 10, 2013"

Well then. If Kelly returns to Notre Dame, that will be a rather costly interview. Well, unless Kelly leverages the interview into earning a raise from Notre Dame. Does anybody remember the days when this was actually an amateur sport?

One way or another, this is a excellent get for Will Muschamp and the Florida Gators, which look like a program settling into a more defensive identity. Anzalone is an exciting young prospect that should only aid in that transformation.