Under former defensive coordinator Al Golden’s high-pressure defensive system, Notre Dame’s defensive backs wreaked havoc on opposing passing attacks all throughout 2024. With a secondary that included NFL draft selections Benjamin Morrison and Xavier Watts, as well as talented young players in Christian Gray, Leonard Moore, and Adon Shuler, the Irish back half anchored a “bend, don’t break” defense that led Notre Dame to the national championship game.
Entering 2025 with a new coordinator (Chris Ash), and a softer, zone-based system, Notre Dame’s talented secondary was expected to retain their spot among college football’s elite position groups. However, the group was exposed during the opening two defeats to Miami and Texas A&M. There appeared to be confusion and miscommunication, and more uncharacteristically, missed tackles and blown coverages.
Throughout the first three weeks, Notre Dame had allowed 98 points, the second most in school history, and was also staring down injuries to several key players. Moore, a sophomore corner from Texas, has been sidelined since the middle of the A&M contest with a right ankle injury, and Alabama transfer cornerback Devonta Smith has also been nursing a right ankle injury since before that 41-40 loss. Additionally, sophomore safety Adon Shuler missed the end of week two and the first half of week three due to a phantom targeting call.
To fill these voids, defensive backs coach Mike Mickens initially turned to sophomore Karson Hobbs and freshman Dallas Golden. The young cornerback who best proved his worth was neither of these two, however. It was instead the most unexpected of characters. Standing at a scrawny 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, freshman Mark Zackery IV impressed the coaching staff with his preparation and ability to learn on the fly. The in-state athlete from Indianapolis was a highly touted four-star prospect, but didn’t expect to be thrust into action immediately behind such a talented core of corners.
“It’s been a journey, coming in this summer and competing for a spot and then knowing I’d be going in the first game if anyone went down,” Zackery said. He made his debut down in South Beach, before recording his first solo tackle at home against the Aggies. A week later against Purdue, he was already in the starting lineup, recording both a tackle for loss and a pass breakup in the dominating win. “The realization that I was going in, it was time to buckle my seatbelt and grow up a little bit. So that’s been my process these first four weeks,” he said.
Both the coaching staff and Zackery had confidence he would be ready if his number were called, citing his maturation and preparation. Zackery noted that he has been, “preparing like a starter, whether it’s schoolwork or film. I’m meeting with Coach Mickens daily to make sure I’m prepared like a starter when my opportunity presents itself.”
Head coach Marcus Freeman agreed, saying, “He’s been really intentional about the work in practice and understanding that you have to treat the speed of practice like a game.”
Zackery was also complimentary of the veterans in the position group, noting how they have assisted him in learning the system. “I’m just gradually getting better and trusting in Christian and Leonard to keep coaching me up at the position so I’m ready to be out there,” he said. Zackery continued to note the learning curve between playing as a man safety in high school to picking up Ash’s system, adding, “I’ve improved drastically, with my body as well, but especially mentally. Coming from a high school where we just played man, and I was playing safety, so just knowing what I’m doing in a situation in the back half is different.”
It’s no secret that Notre Dame’s defense has been dissected and disregarded by fans and media alike so far this season. The unit was dominant against a top-five national unit in Arkansas last week, holding the Razorbacks to just over 200 air yards and only one offensive touchdown. The Irish will have another test this week, with 2024 College Football Playoff participant Boise State and their potent offense rambling into South Bend. The Broncos have averaged 49 points across their prior three games, potentially presenting a crucial test as to whether Notre Dame’s defense has righted its early season wrongs.
With the health of the secondary still in question, and a Bronco offense that likes to air it out in the absence of former Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty, Zackery will have to continue his growth and solidify a budding Notre Dame backline. Freeman is confident in the youngster’s ability and character. “He wants to be coached. He wants to improve. We knew he had talent, but sometimes during failure you learn if a guy is a competitive individual that wants to take ownership and say, ‘How do I make this better?’” he said.
Perhaps the most glowing review the head coach could provide was his briefest, but it displayed exactly how he feels about the potential of Zackery. “Whether Leonard’s healthy or not, we have confidence that Mark can help.”
