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Notre Dame recruits football team and signs CB Mark Zackery from Indianapolis

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Mark Zackery IV has known for some time that Notre Dame was where he wanted to be for his college football career, but just to be sure, he traveled to South Bend one more time this spring and once more to take one last look at Cincinnati, his other finalist.

Even though he had not made up his mind 100 percent beforehand, Zackery was completely focused on the Irish after the visit.

“I was actually going to wait until I could take official visits just to have that experience,” he said, “but I felt like there was no need for me to go to the other places if I knew where my heart was and where I wanted to be. I know things are changing and there's a lot going on with the transfer portal and things like that, but Notre Dame feels like the right place for me.”

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The 6-foot-4, 175-pound Zackery, rated as a four-star cornerback prospect by 247Sports and the 59th-ranked player in the country in the class of 2025, had narrowed his choices to Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Michigan and Florida, but had scholarship offers from more than two dozen other schools, including Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Tennessee and USC.

What separated Notre Dame from this impressive list of options? The football pedigree and everything that comes with it speaks for itself. Academic achievements (Zachery has a 3.92 GPA) also played a role. But the connections to coach Marcus Freeman and defensive backs coach Mike Mickens may have tipped the Irish in favor of Zackery.

“There's obviously a connection between Coach Freeman and Coach Mickens,” Zackery said. “It just fits me, too. Coach Mickens is a great defensive backs coach.”

Zackery pointed to the success of players Mickens has coached, like Sauce Gardner, who played in Cincinnati when Mickens was there and is a two-time Pro Bowler with the New York Jets. Another is Ben Morrison, a former four-star prospect who was a finalist for the Thorpe Award last season as a sophomore. And then there's Cam Hart, who was selected in the fifth round of the NFL draft by the Los Angeles Chargers last month. Hart was originally a wide receiver but then converted to defensive back and became the full-time starter at cornerback opposite Morrison.

“Development is a big part,” Zackery said. “I feel like there's a lot more to my game. I've only been playing cornerback for three years. I think (Mickens) is one of the guys that can develop me as a player, but also as a person outside of football. Coach Freeman can too. I just know this (recruiting) class really well, going to see them and seeing things and activities we've done together. I feel like there's a connection between us. I think we can win a national championship together.”

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IndyStar Boys Basketball Preseason Superteam: Meet Ben Davis' Mark Zackery

Preps insider Kyle Neddenriep holds a question-and-answer session with Ben Davis' Mark Zackery.

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Even before Zackery's commitment, Notre Dame's 2025 recruiting class was ranked No. 1 in the country by 247Sports. The Irish already had eight four-star recruits in the class, including Florida cornerback Dallas Golden, who committed last week. Zackery is the first in-state recruit of the Irish's class, although Warren Central defensive end Damien Shanklin, another four-star prospect, has Notre Dame at the top of his list.

Zackery played on both sides of the ball as a junior last season for Ben Davis' Class 6A state championship team. He made 39 tackles, four interceptions, three fumble recoveries and caused two fumbles on defense and caught 53 passes for 823 yards and eight TDs on offense. He is expected to play defense in college, although there could be some flexibility in where he is assigned.

“I know they like to have their guys play a lot of positions (in the secondary),” Zackery said. “For me (it will be corner), but they've also talked about nickel and possibly safety. Now that Coach Mickens is coaching the entire defensive backs, it's going to be whatever he thinks fits me best. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win. Playing on winning teams, I know your role could change. I just want to be the best player I can be on and off the field and just do whatever it takes to win.”

Zackery plans to enroll next June, which will give him the opportunity to play his final season of basketball. The two-sport star was named one of six members of the Indiana Junior All-Stars following the basketball season. He averaged 10.3 points, 3.8 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game for the Giants, the Class 4A runners-up.

He doesn't completely rule out the idea of ​​playing basketball in college. Zackery plays basketball with the top Indiana Elite team, which includes players like Dezmon Briscoe of Crispus Attucks, Braylon Mullins of Greenfield-Central and Trent Sisley of Heritage Hills.

“I've talked to (Notre Dame basketball coach Micah Shrewsberry) about possibly playing basketball as well,” Zackery said. “It's something to consider. But very slow with it because I know it's a big burden in college. But it's something to consider because basketball means a lot to me.”

The recruiting aspect admittedly wore Zackery down a bit at times, but he's relieved to take the next step: preparing for his final season of football and basketball at Ben Davis and what comes after that at Notre Dame.

“It's been a long process,” he said. “But I'm thankful that I've been recruited by these colleges since my freshman year. It's been a long experience and a long journey for me. But now it's really starting with a new place and a new college, and I know it's not going to be easy when they throw me in the deep end as a freshman. I'm going to prepare myself as best I can for next year and work my ass off to get where I need to be.”

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.

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