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Anthony Denman |
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Most decorated of Notre Dame football All-Americans in 2000 after leading team in tackles . . . one of four Notre Dame captains for 2000 season. . .second-team All-American by Associated Press, The Sporting News, Rivals.com and Sportsuperstarz.com . . . third-team All-American by Football News . . . Independent Player of the Year by Football News . . . voted by his teammates the Notre Dame MVP for 2000, as presented by Notre Dame National Monogram Club . . rated 13th nationally among inside linebackers in 2000 preseason rankings by The Sporting News . . . listed on 2000 preseason All-Independent teams named by The Sporting News and Football News . . . four-year monogram winner for the Irish . . . starter at middle linebacker . . . developed into dominant linebacker as senior thanks to relentless tackling style . . . set the tone for major improvement for Irish defense in 2000 . . . played outside linebacker his first two seasons but moved inside in '99 and started on weak side following graduation loss of '98 inside starters Bobbie Howard and Jimmy Friday . . . aggressive competitor who adds quickness and a nose for the football to Irish scheme . . . boasts tremendous work ethic and solid knowledge of Irish system . . . won letters as freshman and sophomore as backup at outside linebacker and with special-team contributions.
AS A SENIOR: Notre Dame MVP for 2000 ... named second-team All-American by Associated Press, The Sporting News, Rivals.com and Sportsuperstarz.com and third team by Football News . . . selected as Independent Player of the Year by Football News . . . earned all-Independent team honors as well . . . led linebackers in playing time in 2000 and was second among all defenders . . . played in 45 of 46 games over past four seasons, the most of any Irish player . . . led team in solo tackles (55), total tackles (84), tackles for loss (14) and shared team lead in fumbles caused (2) . . . started all 12 games in 2000 -- including vs. Oregon State in 2001 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl -- and was ringleader of re-energized Irish defense . . . led or shared team lead in tackles in eight of 12 contests in 2000, including seven of the last eight games . . . named to the 2000 Butkus Award watch list . . . ranked 13th nationally among inside linebackers by The Sporting News . . . named to 2000 preseason All-Independent teams by Football News and The Sporting News . . . had eight tackles vs. Texas A&M . . . led team with career-high matching 13 tackles vs. top-ranked Nebraska, while also notching two tackles for loss and a sack in an effort Irish coach Bob Davie called "the best game I've seen played by a linebacker since I've been at Notre Dame" . . . had eight tackles and a sack vs. Purdue and registered nine tackles and a sack vs. Michigan State . . . shared team high with seven tackles, including the 100th solo stop of his career vs. Stanford . . . led team with five tackles and a sack vs. Navy and shared team high with eight tackles, including a sack and another for loss in playing every defensive snap vs. West Virginia . . . led team with 11 tackles including five for loss and two sacks vs. Air Force, while also causing two fumbles . . . led team with nine tackles including one for loss vs. Boston College, while playing every defensive snap . . . shared team lead with six tackles including one for loss vs. USC, while also breaking up a pass . . . tied for team lead in tackles vs. Oregon State with nine in Tostitos Fiesta Bowl while also forcing a fumble and making three tackles for losses of eight yards . . . made 73 regular-season special teams appearances, then five more vs. Oregon State . . . selected to play in East-West Shrine and Rivals.com Hula Bowl Senior all-star games . . . named defensive MVP of 2000 Blue-Gold spring finale after returning an interception 39 yards for a score.
AS A JUNIOR: Notre Dame regular at inside linebacker as first-year starter in '99 . . . named to All-Independent team for '99 by Football News . . . started every game at inside linebacker in '99 . . . led team in solo tackles (59) and shared team lead in fumble recoveries (three) . . . led linebackers in tackles and playing time . . . led Irish in tackles in six games in '99 . . . made six tackles in opener vs. Kansas, plus one for loss to go with a pass broken up . . . also ran 31 yards for a touchdown to give Irish 34-13 third-period lead after picking up fumble caused by Andy Wisne . . . led Irish with 10 tackles vs. Michigan . . . recorded nine tackles, including three for loss and a sack, as well as causing a fumble vs. Michigan State . . . named NBC Sports/Chevrolet Notre Dame MVP against the Spartans . . . had two tackles for loss vs. Oklahoma . . . led Irish with eight tackles vs. Arizona State while also causing a fumble . . . led Notre Dame with seven tackles vs. USC, while also picking up a fumble . . . had three tackles and a fumble recovery vs. Navy . . . led team with 13 tackles (most by a defender in '99) including one for a loss vs. Tennessee . . . made seven tackles and had first career interception vs. Pittsburgh . . . led Irish with 12 tackles vs. Stanford . . . notched 100th career tackle vs. the Vols . . . named defensive MVP of '99 Blue-Gold final spring intrasquad game after making six tackles plus a sack and returning an interception 34 yards.
AS A SOPHOMORE: Top backup to captain Kory Minor in '98 at outside linebacker . . . played in all 12 games, seeing action in all but Army game at linebacker and making 134 regular-season special-team appearances to rank fourth on squad in that category . . . played with punt return, kickoff return, punt and kickoff teams . . . started for first time in career vs. Michigan State with Minor idled by turf toe and made six tackles . . . started again vs. Purdue as Irish used redesigned scheme against Boilers' pass-oriented attack, making four tackles plus a sack . . . had two sacks to end the game vs. Baylor and eight tackles overall . . . made two solo tackles in reserve effort in 1999 Gator Bowl vs. Georgia Tech . . . made 18 special-team appearances (as many as any other player) in Gator Bowl vs. Georgia Tech.
AS A FRESHMAN: Earned a monogram in '97 after playing in 12 games (all but regular-season meeting with LSU) as reserve outside linebacker and special team contributor . . . played drop linebacker spot where he backed up veteran Kory Minor . . . made 57 appearances with Irish special teams during regular season . . . a contributor in '97 Independence Bowl vs. LSU, making eight special-team appearances in that contest . . . saw playing time at outside linebacker vs. Purdue, Michigan State, Michigan, Stanford, Pittsburgh, USC, Boston College and Hawaii.
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Texas all-state selection as senior in '96 . . . earned four letters in football at Rusk High School in Rusk, Texas, playing running back, quarterback, linebacker, defensive line and fullback . . . rushed for 1,250 yards and 12 TDs as senior in '96 . . . accounted for 85 tackles, one sack and six quarterback pressures on defense in '96 . . . captain of team as senior . . . first-team all-East Texas and all-district as junior and senior . . . rushed for 1,428 yards and 20 TDs as junior in '95 . . . all-area selection as junior . . . set school record for most postseason rushing yards . . . earned starting tailback job as high school freshman . . . also earned three letters in track . . . oldest of three children . . . full name is Anthony R. Denman . . . born 10-30-79 in Lufkin, Texas . . . enrolled in Mendoza College of Business with a double major in management and computer applications.
| | G-GS | Time | S-A | Tot. | Sacks | TL-Yds. | FR-FC | PBU | Int. |
| 1997 | 11-0 | 16:27 | 1-5 | 6 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0 |
| 1998 | 11-2 | 74:45 | 18-10 | 28 | 3-26 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0 |
| 1999 | 12-12 | 282:03 | 60-29 | 89 | 1-7 | 9-18 | 3-2 | 2 | 1-0 |
| 2000 | 11-11 | 263:32 | 55-29 | 84 | 5-30 | 14-51 | 0-2 | 1 | 0-0 |
| Total | 45-25 | 636:47 | 134-73 | 207 | 9-63 | 23-69 | 3-4 | 3 | 1-0 |
