Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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36 AUGUST 2024 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY KYLE KELLY On May 25, the Notre Dame football program added another promising piece to their defensive backfield when India- napolis Ben Davis junior Mark Zackery, a top-150 recruit in On3's rankings, an- nounced his verbal commitment to the Fighting Irish. The No. 11 cornerback prospect in the 2025 class chose to play his college football in South Bend over Cincinnati, Florida and Michigan. The 6-foot, 155-pound Zackery held 32 total scholarship offers, including Geor- gia, Ohio State, Oregon, Purdue, Penn State, Tennessee and USC. On Jan. 15, those schools all made his top 10. But after a trip to South Bend March 23, his seventh Notre Dame unofficial visit, and some time away from his family, he be- came crystal clear on his college choice. "My parents went out of town the week after my spring visit, which was a very special visit for me," Zackery told Blue & Gold Illustrated. "Notre Dame focused on me, showing what they had for me and laid it all out. It was more like an official visit with all the information they gave me. "After that visit, I d i d s o m e h eav y thinking, comparing the schools and fig- uring out what would be best for me. Then, I took another visit to Cincinnati to see what it felt like. "I feel different when I step on Notre Dame's campus. I feel like I belong there and fit in. That's one of the main rea- sons I chose Notre Dame and what my recruitment came down to." Zackery, who is also ranked as On3's No. 2 senior in Indiana and No. 108 overall player nationally, joins a star- studded Irish secondary featuring four- star recruits Dallas Golden and Ivan Taylor and three-stars Cree Thomas and Ethan Long. Notre Dame's defensive backfield might appear loaded on paper. How- ever, Zackery said putting his God- given abilities into action should help him stand out among his peers. "They plan to use my versatility and length to our advantage," he said. "I have long arms and a great football IQ. That will help me a lot on the football field." Yet, Zackery understands traits do not guarantee playing time. "I'm going to have to work," he said. "I'm going in with the mindset that when I get to college, I am the worst player in the room, and I have to work for my spot. I have to earn my play- ing time." Zackery will arrive in South Bend next year after a very suc- cessful career at Ben Davis High. Last season, he helped lead the Giants to a state championship in the high- est classification as a two-way player. On defense, he had 39 tackles (37 solo), 8 passes broken up, 4 interceptions, 3 fumble recoveries and 2 forced fumbles in 14 games. On offense, he caught 53 passes for 823 yards and 8 touchdowns. The Indiana Football Coaches Associ- ation (IFCA) named him to their Top 50 All-State team for his efforts. Zackery is also a standout basketball player. This past season, he averaged 11.0 points, 4.3 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game. On March 30, Ben Davis fell in the state final, 65-56, to Fishers (Ind.) High. As a sophomore in 2022-23, he helped his high school hoops team claim the state title by averaging 6.6 points, 2.1 assists and 1.8 rebounds per game. The Irish previously mentioned that Zackery could contribute to the men's basketball program in some capacity. That opportunity remains on the table after coach Micah Shrewsberry saw Zackery and his AAU travel basketball team play in Texas in May. Zackery broke out on the high school gridiron as a freshman in 2021, register- ing 21 solo tackles, 3 passes broken up and 2 interceptions. In 2022, Vanderbilt became the first school to offer him. Defensive backs coach Mike Mickens put the Irish in the mix about a year af- ter his sophomore season. Zackery earned all-state underclass- men recognition as a sophomore in 2022. He had 18 tackles (16 solo) and 4 passes broken up in seven games. On offense, he had 8 receptions for 65 yards and 1 touchdown. ✦ Notre Dame Lands In-State Standout Following Final Unofficial Visit COMMITMENT PROFILE MARK ZACKERY Zackery, the No. 11 cornerback and No. 108 overall prospect in the country per On3, verbally committed to Notre Dame over Cincinnati, Florida and Michigan in May. PHOTO BY KYLE KELLY FILM ANALYSIS "Mark Zackery is, simply put, a baller, and that's on Friday nights on the football field or the basketball court. He's highly competitive and productive in every opportunity and high school athletic setting. "He plays with good instincts, has a natural feel for operating in space and has strong ball skills. He's coordinated; it's not hard to see the basketball background transfer over to foot- ball. He's good in contested catch situations on both sides of the ball." — On3 director of scouting and rankings Charles Power "I feel different when I step on Notre Dame's campus. I feel like I belong there and fit in. That's one of the main reasons I chose Notre Dame and what my recruitment came down to." ZACKERY