Ben Davis standout Mark Zackery IV will sign with Notre Dame on Wednesday, the start of the early signing period for college football. Zackery explains, in his own words, why he committed to the Irish:
Notre Dame was a school I saw a lot on TV when I was younger, but I never knew much about it. I grew up an Ohio State football fan, but Notre Dame was something that was always present.
As I have gone through the whole recruiting process and to see all these great schools in different conferences, stepping on to Notre Dame’s campus in South Bend is a different type of feeling to anywhere else in the country. I chose Notre Dame because of the love they have shown for me and my family and the dedication in them telling and showing me I am a great fit for not just the football team but for the school.
The whole coaching staff is a great group of not just coaches but men that I want to be surrounded with as I go through this big step in my life in transitioning into a man. I have started up relationships with some of the players on the team and players in my recruiting class and these are the type of people I want to go to battle with. I value my close friends and family a lot in my life, and I get that same home feeling when I’m in the facility with all the Notre Dame family.
In-depth: For Mark Zackery IV, it all starts at home.
Me being from Indianapolis also made my decision that much easier because my family and friends back home will still be very available whenever. Notre Dame has always talked about life after football and the different opportunities the school alone provides for us, added on to competing at the highest level. School has always been something I have never taken for granted because going to the NFL or not, you are going to stop playing football one day.
I believe that Notre Dame has the best combination of football, coaches, education and connections in the country. It took me a while to go on all of my different visits, enjoy my recruitment process and commit to my school. Deep down in my heart, I knew where home was going to be, and it was none other than the University of Notre Dame.
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 270-4904.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Signing day: Why Indiana DB Mark Zackery signed for Notre Dame football
