Anthony Sacca Aiming For A National Championship At Notre Dame

Notre Dame commit Anthony Sacca wants to win a championship at Notre Dame

St. Joseph's Prep linebacker Anthony Sacca (39) celebrates after intercepting a tipped pass during / Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK

Notre Dame landed a crucial commitment on Saturday, when Philadelphia (Pa.) St. Joseph’s Prep star defender Anthony Sacca opted for the Irish over finalists Ohio State, Alabama, Wisconsin and Duke. Playing anywhere from safety, overhang and inside linebacker, Sacca brings an impressive physical profile that could be weaponized on the second level. 

The 6-3, 225-pound linebacker has been a hot commodity from a recruiting perspective for some time now. The Irish staff had been pursuing him for well over a year, but the chaos actually started when he was just a freshman. Sacca did his best job to navigate it all, eventually coming to this decision. 

“It feels great honestly,” Sacca told Irish Breakdown. “Really great getting the relief of the whole recruiting process. I had been getting recruited since I was a freshman and having coaches banging down my door for three years. After thinking about everything, I ended up coming to the conclusion I came to. 

“I think I did a good job not letting the process consume my entire life,” he continued. “I kind of had this switch that it is either football time and it is relax time, me time. I needed time to be able to relax with my family because with my schedule at least football wise, I don’t get to see my family as much so I want to try to leave the football stuff at school. At home, I just try to have quality time with my family.” 

In the past, Sacca had talked about taking official visits and making a decision later this offseason. For him, there wasn’t much else to see. This commitment was made with extensive knowledge, understanding and Sacca’s support system. 

“Over the last couple of weeks, I was thinking a lot,” Sacca explained. “I was having meetings with my coaches a lot, sitting down with my parents a lot. We were just hashing it out to figure out where we wanted to go and what is the best decision for me. 

“When you get to this point, there is no bad decision. It is what is the best decision,” he continued. “When I told my dad, I got a good job and a handshake, which is the most I will probably get out of my dad.”

In the end, this wasn’t anybody else’s decision. This was Sacca’s. His family wanted him to make the best decision for himself, although there were some pro Notre Dame members of his family. 

“My dad kept his own opinions tight to the vest,” said Sacca. “He wanted it to be my decision at the end of the day. My mom didn't care. She said wherever we are going, I will be there. 

“My aunts and uncles came out with me to the Notre Dame-Ohio State game and they loved it,” added Sacca. “They never voiced it but I always knew it. They were super ecstatic when I broke the news to them on Monday night. The funny thing was, I was out to dinner with my grandparents yesterday and they both wanted my dad in the worst of ways to go to Notre Dame. They were so Notre Dame. The joke was that it took 35 years but there is finally a Sacca going to Notre Dame.” 

With the commitment in the books, the next step is for Sacca to help build another great recruiting class for the Irish. He has high goals for the program, and is excited to get to work. 

“We brought in a great 2024 class, a bunch of big hitters in there,” he stated. “Now we are kind of building momentum off of that. We are going to get a shot as a team and a group to do this thing. With an expanded college football playoffs, more opportunity is out there. 

“The goal is to go undefeated and win a national championship,” Sacca continued. “I think it’s going to be a special place in South Bend, Indiana if you have a playoff game going on there.”

In the end, Notre Dame gave Sacca everything he needed: great football, education, and relationships. Their relentlessness and consistency won him over in the end. 

The Philadelphia native was a huge reason that St. Joseph’s Prep finished with a 13-1 overall record and a state championship in 2023. Sacca finished with 67 total tackles and two interceptions on the season. 

The Hawk’s only loss on the season came in the opener against IMG Academy, coming out just short 17 to 14. In the other 13 games, St. Joseph’s Prep outscored their opponents by a 565-133 point margin.

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