CB Mark Zackery IV Building Confidence Entering Key Spring at Notre Dame
Mark Zackery IV arrived in South Bend in June and a few months later, the Indianapolis native found himself on the field in Miami.
The 5-foot-10, 184-pound cornerback logged 307 snaps as a freshman, stepping up when starters Christian Gray and Leonard Moore missed time due to injuries.
Zackery finished the season with 10 tackles and two pass breakups, but the real value came from the experience he gained being thrown to the wolves.
“A lot of experience,” Zackery said of what he gained from last fall. “Just gaining more confidence, just putting in the work in the offseason. I feel like in high school I really didn't have the opportunity to do that since I was playing both basketball and football, but just having the offseason, just dialing in on football, especially when I got back from the stint with basketball here, really helped me a lot.”
Zackery briefly joined the Notre Dame basketball program this winter, but ultimately decided to shift his full attention to football, especially as the Irish added transfer cornerbacks DJ McKinney and Jayden Sanders.
The decision has already paid dividends.
“It really just worked out in my favor because when we didn't make it to the playoffs, they called when Markus (Burton) was hurt,” explained Zackery. “I was willing to help out the team. Gradually going through, I kind of wanted to get stronger for football.
“I just saw the players we were bringing in and I wanted to be contributing as much as possible. So just coming back, gaining the weight I needed, and just putting all my tips into football was why I did that.”
That added focus has carried into spring ball, where Zackery has worked closely with new defensive backs coach Aaron Henry. Each defensive back was given specific areas to improve, and for Zackery, the emphasis is clear: make more plays.
“Just my press technique and working on 50-50 balls down the field,” stated Zackery. “I had two pass breakups today, so I feel like I'm just constantly trying to strive with that, write it down every day before practice and keep working towards that.”
Another key development this spring is Zackery’s growing comfort at cornerback. While he played the position in high school, he also spent significant time at safety, making last season a learning curve at times.
“I feel like I'm more comfortable,” Zackery said. “Coming in the summer, I feel like it was a fresh reset. I played safety in high school, so I re-learned the corner position and then during the season just getting thrown into the fire. It was kind of like I'm out there just running the coverages, but now I feel like I know more of the defense and where everybody's rotating to.”
That confidence aligns with Notre Dame’s mindset heading into 2026. After being left out of the College Football Playoff, the Irish have adopted a “Leave No Doubt” mantra.
For Zackery, that approach isn’t new.
“I just feel like it's been my motto my whole lifetime,” said Zackery. “I've been preached that by that from my parents. Just leaving no doubt in everything that we do.
“I just feel like it just speaks volumes to what we're going to do this year and I feel like we're striving to be the best team in the country.”
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