Anthony Zimmerman 6'0,185LB MLB/FB Class of 2020 HErshey HS (PA)- All- American Report

Anthony Zimmerman comes to us from Hershey High School in Pennsylvania and is one of the most tenacious and technically sound linebackers I have seen for the Class of 2020. With the ability to diagnose plays extremely quickly, Zimmerman is in the backfield time and time again, creating havoc for his opponents. On the first play of Anthony's All-American highlights, you will see him gain perfect inside leverage with his arm extended to keep the offensive linemen off of him and then is able to make a bone shattering tackle deep into the opponents backfield. As a blitzing linebacker, Zimmerman is one of the quickest I have seen through the gap and he is able to once again meet the ball carrier as soon as he receives the hand-off. Zimmerman plays with great acceleration and speed on both sides of the football, while he also is a featured fullback in the traditional wing-t offense. He proves to be a tough runner with great instincts and vision when taking the read-option hand offs and wastes no time getting the ball moving downhill for big chunks of yards. Zimmerman's special teams play is what garnered him his teams specialist MVP award, as he is a master at blocking punts and kicks alike. Anthony keenly lines up over center and uses his supreme athletics to accelerate past the long snapper before he can get his head up to locate Anthony to make his block. Even when the Guard is able to step down to attempt to fill the A-GAP, Anthony proves to be to quick and keeps his pad level perfect, along with being able to gain instant leverage going through the hole and than is able to perfectly time his blocked punts and kicks. Anthony can be seen coming off the edge at around 3:00 minutes into his film and comes unblocked to get to the proper ball trajectory point and make another game-changing play. Anthony shows stellar ability when he performs inside "stunts" on opposing field goal block unit and is even seen twisting to the opposite gap so instinctively he is able to create dynamic plays on special teams at any given moment of a contest. Anthony is seen playing with great leverage and overall technique in the box, as time and time again, he is able to use his hands swiftly and precisely to detach from oncoming blockers in order to find the ball carrier. Anthony led the Varsity Ball Club at Hershey High School in tackles this past season and was a dominant force on special teams, which helped garner his Scout Trout Class of 2020 All-American nomination and #4 overall national linebacker ranking. With Anthony's stellar athletics and tackling ability, while also being coached by a former Penn State and Oakland Raider stand-out Linebacker in  Bani Gbadyu, who had this to say about Class of 2020 All-American Anthony Zimmerman. 

"Anthony was a better LB as a Sophomore than I was in High School, and he was a pleasure to coach, and Anthony is one heck of an Athlete”! That's saying a lot coming from a player from Linebacker U, and who was picked up by the Oakland Raiders".

One thing I learned about linebackers who played the game and thrived at the highest level is that they will not fabricate their evaluations on a young student-athlete. Zimmerman shows all of the characteristics of another big time talent from "Linebacker U" and will be a joy to watch this year on the gridiron in the heavily talented and tough football state of Pennsylvania. 

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PENN STATE - LINEBACKER U!