Martin Becomes Commitment No. 13

Offensive lineman Zach Martin became Notre Dame’s 13th commitment of the 2008 recruiting season on Sunday. The 6-foot-5, 270-pound offensive tackle prospect chose the Irish on Sunday over a host of impressive offers.

The Irish are in dire need of offensive tackles in this 2009 recruiting class, and today Indianapolis, Ind. native Zach Martin made Irish head coach Charlie Weis a happy man.

"I spoke to coach (Ianello) today, and and I was waiting to speak with coach Weis. I just got off the phone with coach Weis and told him I was committing," Martin said. "He was really happy to hear that. He was pumped. I was pumped. I'm just really excited right now."

Martin chose the Irish over offers from teams like Michigan, Iowa, Virginia and Kentucky. Team chemistry played a major part in his decision.

"I had a list of about six or seven things that I wanted in a school and Notre Dame hit on all of them," he said. "The final touch was probably last weekend when I went on a visit up there and got to hang out with the guys. I just felt really comfortable with them, and I really felt like I fit in there. All those guys were great to me and really made me feel at home."

Martin said his family was also very excited about his commitment to Notre Dame.

"They're all really excited for me," he said. "They know that I'm going to a great place with good academics. They know the coaches are going to take care of me, so they're really excited for me."

The Bishop Chatard high school star was planning to take one last visit to Michigan before deciding, but he said that visit wasn’t necessary as he knew where he wanted to attend college already.

"I just knew I was going to Notre Dame and I didn't want to lead anyone on anymore," Martin said when asked why he chose the Irish without taking the scheduled Michigan visit. "I just knew where I wanted to go, so I thought I shouldn't drag it on any longer."

Now that he's made his choice Martin says he's glad he can focus on his senior season.

"I'm really glad it's over," he said. "All the coaches were great. I can now just focus on my season and have a great year before I go off to Notre Dame."