Irish getting a playmaker

Among the nuggets Tom Lemming can toss out about coveted prospect Alex
Anzalone are that he averaged 11.5 yards per carry last season, and
that Anzalone reminds him of former Stanford star running back Toby
Gerhart.

“A lot of people don't realize he's a very good back,” Lemming, the
CBS Sports Network recruiting analyst said of Anzalone, who on Sunday
announced that he will play at Notre Dame beginning in 2013. “But he's
also a real good linebacker.”

Really, really good, if you look at the rankings. Rivals.com rates
Anzalone as the No. 49 overall player nationally while 247Sports.com
has the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Anzalone as its No. 43 player. Both
recruiting web sites have Anzalone ranked among their top 10 in terms
of outside linebackers.

Anzalone, who could play either inside or outside, said he plans to
play inside linebacker for the Irish. He recorded 58 solo tackles and
nine sacks last year at Wyomissing (Pa.) High School.

Among the other names Lemming mentioned was that of Brian Cushing, the
former USC linebacker who flirted with Notre Dame when he was coming
out of high school.

“(Anzalone) moves very well in space, which is what you want to see,”
Lemming said. “He can run, he can hit and he's a smart kid. Makes a
lot of plays. He's a big-time catch for Notre Dame.”

Results from The Opening

Notre Dame linebacker commit Jaylon Smith held to his five-star
ranking while competing at Nike's The Opening camp in Beaverton, Ore.,
this weekend. Smith was named to the all-tournament team for the Nike
7ON tournament.

ESPN.com also posted a number of measurements from some of the Notre
Dame commits who took part in the SPARQ testing at the camp.

Cornerback Devin Butler measured in at 6-foot-1, 179 pounds. He
clocked a time of 4.64 seconds in the 40-yard dash and a 4.32 in the
agility shuttle. He recorded a vertical jump of 36.7 inches and his
kneeling powerball toss (6.6 pounds) was 40.5 feet.

Anzalone measured in at 6-2.5, 229. He clocked a 4.73 time in the
40-yard dash and a 4.34 in the agility shuttle. He recorded a vertical
jump of 29.3 inches and a 42.5-foot throw in the kneeling powerball
toss.

Smith measured in at 6-3, 212. He clocked a time of 4.59 in the
40-yard dash and a 4.41 in the agility shuttle. He recorded a vertical
jump of 32.6 inches and a 40-foot kneeling powerball toss.

Offensive lineman Colin McGovern measured in at 6-5, 284. He clocked a
5.4 in the 40 and a 4.74 in the agility shuttle. He recorded a
vertical jump of 24 inches and his kneeling powerball toss was 37
feet.

Bivin earns honor

After playing three games for Team USA in the 2012 International
Federation of American Football Under-19 World Championship, Notre
Dame offensive line commit Hunter Bivin was named to the
All-Tournament Team.

Bivin was one of nine U.S. players to make the team. Team USA earned
the silver medal following a 23-17 loss to Canada in the championship
game.

Three Irish on watch lists

Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert and running back Cierre Wood on
Monday were named to the Maxwell Award watch list while linebacker
Manti Te'o was named to the Bednarik Award watch list.

The Maxwell is presented annually to college football's player of the
year while the Bednarik Award is given to the defensive player of the
year.