Tag: ben davis

Marcus Freeman Visits Indianapolis Prospect

A huge in-state target for Notre Dame…

Notre Dame’s 2025 recruiting class is off to a fantastic start as most outlets have the Fighting Irish ranked as the top class nationally.  It’s clearly early and Notre Dame is a program that usually falls the closer to signing day we get, so the importance of stacking a strong class early is that much more important.

With all of that in mind, Marcus Freeman is doing his best to continue to load up the Fighting Irish secondary.  He was in Indianapolis on Friday night to take in Ben Davis High School’s basketball game.  There he watched Notre Dame target Mark Zackery.

Zackery is listed as a four-star prospect on 247Sports.  The outlet ranks him as the 62nd overall prospect in the 2025 recruiting class while the 247Sports composite ranks him 179th overall.

You can see Notre Dame cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens and offensive line coach Joe Rudolph seated next to Freeman.

Zackery named Notre Dame as one of his 10 finalists earlier this month and was on campus for junior weekend last weekend.

Mark Zackery commits to Notre Dame football: ‘I know where my heart is’

Notre Dame football already had the No. 1 recruiting class in 2025. It just got even better with the commitment of four-star Mark Zackery.

Notre Dame football already had the No. 1-ranked recruiting unit in the class of 2025. It just got even stronger with the commitment of one of the top cornerbacks in the nation.

Mark Zackery IV, a four-star CB out of Ben Davis (Indianapolis, Ind.), committed to Notre Dame over the weekend. In an interview with the Indy Star, Zackery said he had known he wanted to attend Notre Dame but needed to visit some programs to be sure. After a visit to Notre Dame, he was set without taking his full allotment of official visits.

“I was going to wait it out to 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 when I know where my heart is and where I want to be.

“I know things change and there’s a lot going on with the transfer portal and things like that, but Notre Dame feels like the place for me.”

Zackery chose Notre Dame over 31 other schools that had offered him, and he announced a top four in Cincinnati, Michigan, and Florida, in addition to the Fighting Irish. Programs like the skill set of the 5-foot-1.5, 164-pound CB, ranked on 247Sports’ newly updated rankings as the No. 59 player in the nation and the sixth-best cornerback in the class.

Zackery starred on both sides of the ball for Ben Davis last year, recording 53 receptions, 823 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on offense while posting 39 tackles, four interceptions and three fumble recoveries (two forced) on defense. He key roles helped Ben Davis win the championship and finish No. 22 in the Super 25 national rankings.

In the interview with the Indy Star, Zackery said Notre Dame’s Mike Mickens was a key part of his decision. The defensive backs coach has a track record of success with players like New York Jets star Sauce Gardner, Los Angeles Rams draft pick Cam Hart and Thorpe Award finalist Ben Morrison.

Notre Dame now has 22 commitments in the class under head coach Marcus Freeman. Zackery is the fourth player in the unit ranked in the top-100 players of the class of 2025. 

“I just know this (recruiting) class very well going on visits with them and experiencing things and activities we did together,” he said to the Indy Star. I feel like there is a connection with us. I feel like we’ll be able to win a national championship together.”

Read more at the Indy Star.

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WATCH: Oklahoma Sooners 5-star DL David Stone takes interception 94 yards

Future Sooners were in action this past Friday night and one high level recruit had a highlight to see.

On Friday, numerous future Oklahoma Sooners were in action across the country. Among them was five-star defensive lineman [autotag]David Stone[/autotag] at [autotag]IMG Academy[/autotag].

Stone was a huge win for the Sooners just a few weeks ago. They staved off a late push by the [autotag]Miami Hurricanes[/autotag] to secure his commitment. On Friday night, IMG Academy was taking on [autotag]Ben Davis[/autotag] High School out of Indianapolis, Indiana.

Ben Davis was about to score, but then Stone made a play. Not only did he intercept the pass, he turned on the jets and took it 94 yards to the house. It was another example of his impressive athleticism as most were waiting for someone to catch up to him, but none ever got close.

Stone dominated the game from start to finish, and his coach Billy Miller told [autotag]247Sports[/autotag]’ Steve Wiltfong that they love having him on their team.

“We’re so lucky to have David on our team,” Miller said. “He is a tremendous athlete. Tremendous kid. He works his butt off, and we’re really fortunate he goes to IMG I’ll tell you that.”

Stone hasn’t signed yet but if he does, I’m sure Sooners fans and coaches will feel the same way Miller does. Stone’s ability can be a program-changing signing as he’s able to bring something Oklahoma just hasn’t had in many years.

Another sign [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and Co. know exactly what it takes to be competitive in the SEC.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

How each Texas prospect performed at pro day on Thursday

Brenden Schooler was a top performer in most categories.

In total, 15 former Longhorns participated in Texas’ pro day on Thursday. Continue reading “How each Texas prospect performed at pro day on Thursday”

Offensive line getting all the publicity, don’t forget about the edge rushers

Don’t forget about this group in 2022.

The offensive line recruiting stole all of the headlines in 2022, and for good reason. Big 12 Recruiter of the Year Kyle Flood hauled in two five-stars that could be in line to start immediately, among the impressive class.

In that very same class, the Texas defense secured two of the top edge rushers in the class. They both landed inside the top 12 according to 247Sports composite player rankings.

Perhaps what is even more impressive is that the Longhorns staff ventured into SEC country to snag both of them. This could be an omen for the future when Texas finally leaves the Big 12 Conference behind for the SEC.

Starting with the No. 12 player, Texas signed Justice Finkley out of Alabama.

Based on his measurables, Finkley looks ready to make an immediate impact on the Longhorns’ defense. He feels very much like a Joseph Ossai-type player for Texas. That might be a huge boost in the arm of the defense. Last season no player was able to record more than 2.5 sacks.

Texas also added J’Mond Tapp out of Louisiana, he came in ranked at No. 11. According to 247Sports his NFL comparison is Tampa Bay edge rusher Jermauria Rasco. Both players have an early projection of rounds 4-7 in the NFL draft.

Under the tutelage of Pete Kwiatkowski, who produced several NFL edge rushers at Washington, that could change over the course of their collegiate careers.

Much like the offensive line, Steve Sarkisian and the staff realized they had real issues on the defensive side of the ball. More specifically a disadvantage at pass rusher. No Longhorn recorded more than 15 quarterback pressures over the 12-game season for Texas.

Former Alabama edge rusher Ben Davis was the highest-graded pass rusher according to Pro Football Focus, but he recorded just five pressures. The team got more production out of linebacker DeMarvion Overshown. The team’s leading pass rusher in terms of pressure returns with Alfred Collins. Provided the edge rushers get more attention, that should give him plenty of one-on-one opportunities.

With Finkley and Tapp in the rotation, perhaps we see a bump from the position group that was overmatched in 2021.

How Alabama football transfers are performing with their new programs

Former Alabama players are shining at their new programs!

In this day and age, working the transfer portal is just as important as recruiting for a college program. Alabama has taken advantage, finding two of their best players in Jameson Williams (Ohio State) and Henry To’oto’o (Tennessee) from the portal.

But just as it giveth, the transfer portal can also taketh. Nine players who were on the Crimson Tide’s roster last season ended up transferring out of the program. All landed at Power Five schools as well.

Texas was the most popular destination, with running back Keilan Robinson and outside linebacker Ben Davis following Steve Sarkisian to Austin. The two Los Angeles schools in UCLA and USC are represented, as are rivals Tennessee.

A name fans may recognize the most is kicker Joseph Bulovas. Now at Vanderbilt, he has stepped up as Clark Lea’s placekicker this season.

Here are how Alabama’s class of 2021 transfers are performing at their new schools.

Five Big 12 players grace Yahoo Sports’ rankings of impactful transfers

The Big 12 as a whole is inheriting an abundance of talent via the transfer portal.

The Big 12 as a whole is inheriting an abundance of talent throughout the conference via the transfer portal.

With the rule of having to sit out after transferring now abolished, along with the extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19, teams throughout the nation are seeking transfers that can come in and make an immediate impact for their program.

Texas, under a new coaching staff, is one of those schools that has relied heavily on the portal to address team needs. The Longhorns have taken in a total of seven transfers, and are in the mix for another in King Mwikuta, who announced a little over a week ago that he plans to transfer from Alabama.

The Longhorns are not the only school in the Big 12 to take advantage of the portal, as Oklahoma took in a quarter of Tennessee’s roster, and Texas Tech more than made up for the loss of quarterback Alan Bowman by getting Oregon transfer Tyler Shough. Yahoo Sports ranked 21 key instant impact transfers, which is full of players that they view have the best chance of coming in and immediately being difference makers for their new team.

Five out of the 21 players found a new home at a Big 12 school, and two of them are ranked in the top five. Let’s take a look at the transfers that made the list and where they rank.

Each player that Texas football added, subtracted via the transfer portal recently

A full list of each player that the Texas Longhorns have added or subtracted via the NCAA transfer portal recently.

The Texas Longhorns have been active in the NCAA transfer portal recently. Continue reading “Each player that Texas football added, subtracted via the transfer portal recently”

Texas Football: CFN names top incoming transfer, key game for 2021 season

College Football News recently chose the key game for the Longhorns for the 2021 season and which transfer is at the top of their list.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff have been busy plucking quality players out of the NCAA transfer portal this offseason. Continue reading “Texas Football: CFN names top incoming transfer, key game for 2021 season”

Where the Texas Longhorns land in ESPN’s post-spring rankings

The Texas Longhorns spring football is now in the rear view mirror, ESPN ranked them in the top 25 of their post-spring rankings.

Spring football has come to a close for the Texas Longhorns. First-year head coach Steve Sarkisian inherits a team that finished fourth in the conference and were just a few plays away from being one of the top teams heading into the Big 12 Championship game. Can he finally get Texas over the proverbial hump in year one?

2021 Texas Longhorns Outlook

Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

The Texas Longhorns return a total of 15 starters in all three phases of the game. Six return on offense and seven on the defensive side of the ball. In the previous way-too-early rankings from ESPN, the team was listed at No. 21 but dipped just one spot in the updated post-spring rankings to No. 22.

The Longhorns defense added a pair of transfer linebackers from the SEC to help enhance Pete Kwiatkowski’s defense in Ray Thornton (LSU) and Ben Davis (Alabama) among a few others. Offensively, they will deploy a new quarterback between Hudson Card or Casey Thompson. The offense will hopefully use Bijan Robinson as their workhorse much in the way that Najee Harris was used for Sarkisian in Tuscaloosa.

What ESPN Says…

Steve Sarkisian’s first spring camp concluded without a definitive answer on who will replace Ehlinger, a four-year starter. Casey Thompson took snaps with the No. 1 offense in the spring game, and he’ll continue to battle Hudson Card throughout the offseason.

New defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski will have a busy offseason trying to build depth at linebacker and on the edge. Along with losing Ossai to the NFL draft, 2020 leading tackler Juwan Mitchell announced on Monday he will transfer to Tennessee.