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INDIANAPOLIS – For more than 17 months, Markese Stepp’s name was attached to Notre Dame. When the star running back at Cathedral committed to the Irish in the summer before his junior year, it seemed like not only a good fit for Stepp on the football field but for his wardrobe as well.

Stepp, the nation’s No. 12 running back recruit by 247sports.com, has spent the past couple of weeks giving away his Notre Dame gear after reopening his recruitment. He officially won’t need it after signing with Southern Cal, a longtime Notre Dame rival, on Wednesday at Cathedral.

“I just gave (my Notre Dame clothes) away to all the Notre Dame fans here, to be honest,” Stepp said. “It was a lot of stuff. I have a little bit of USC stuff, but I’m going to try to get more.”

Stepp committed to USC two weeks after pulling his commitment to Notre Dame. The Trojans have long held a reputation as “Tailback U”, the latest star being Ronald Jones II, who is projected as a second- or third-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft. Stepp said he “kind of knew” where he wanted to go when he pulled his commitment from Notre Dame, although programs like Indiana, Iowa and Louisville also made a strong push.

“When I went out there I didn’t really think about the ‘Tailback U’, I just wanted to go somewhere I could do my best,” he said. “I felt like USC was the place, which is why I went there.”

This is the first year for an early signing period in college football. The three-day window from Wednesday to Friday is a chance for recruits — and coaches — to solidify spots in the recruiting class before the traditional signing day (which is Feb. 7, 2018).

At Cathedral, four football standouts decided to make it official Wednesday. Stepp, five-star offensive lineman Emil Ekiyor (Alabama), linebacker Hugh Davis (Boston College) and wide receiver Daijon Collins (Indiana State) all signed.

Ekiyor, a one-time Michigan recruit, said the Alabama staff planned to secure almost all of its fifth-ranked recruiting class in the early period.

“Once I switched my decision to Alabama I was pretty sure I wanted to sign early,” Ekiyor said. “I wanted to get this process over with and be a part of the Crimson Tide. I think from a numbers standpoint, (the coaches) want to get it done so they can figure out their classes a little earlier.”

► SIGNING DAY: A closer look at IU's 2018 class

► SIGNING DAY: A closer look at Notre Dame's 2018 class

► SIGNING DAY: A closer look at Purdue's 2018 class

Davis took his official visit earlier this month to Boston College, where former Cathedral standout Ben Stewart was his host. Davis said he had still been hearing from a few schools, but the trip solidified his commitment to the Eagles.

“(The Boston College coaches) wanted the majority of the class to sign early,” Davis said. “The majority of us did. There are a couple more high-profile guys they are waiting on for February, but for the most part our class is locked up.”

Jackson Barrow, a senior linebacker at Cathedral, decided to wait until February to sign. Barrow, a Toledo recruit, wore a Toledo sweatshirt to a signing ceremony for his classmates on Wednesday in the Cathedral cafeteria.

“I’m still committed to Toledo but we’ll see what else is out there,” said Barrow, who is still talking to Ball State and Indiana State. “Toledo sees me playing (middle linebacker) and I think I fit their style really well.”

It was an Indiana connection that helped lead Stepp to USC. Deland McCullough, an Indiana assistant from 2011-16, joined the Trojans as the running backs coach in March. McCullough recruited Stepp during his time at Indiana.

“He was the first person to offer me while he was at IU,” said Stepp, whose father Marcus Stepp played with McCullough in college at Miami of Ohio. “We had a good relationship. They are down-to-earth people. It felt like the right fit.”

Ekiyor (Alabama), Lawrence Central linebacker Cameron McGrone (Michigan) and Stepp (USC), the top three recruits in the state by 247sports, all signed on Wednesday. IndyStar Mr. Football Reese Taylor signed with Indiana and his teammate, running back Johnny Adams, signed with Cal. Other top-10 recruits in the state to sign were Decatur Central athlete Tyrone Tracy (Iowa), Avon wide receiver Isaac Guerendo (Wisconsin) and Hamilton Southeastern defensive back Madison Norris (Indiana).

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

Class of 2018 local signees

Johnny Adams, Ben Davis, California
Allan Augustus, Lawrence Central, Marian
Antrez Baker, Brownsburg, Ohio
Elijah Ball, Ben Davis, Purdue
Herschel Blakenship, Plainfield, Western Illinois

Alec Burton, Danville, Ohio
Bennett Clark, Zionsville, Miami (Ohio)
Daijon Collins, Cathedral, Indiana State
Hugh Davis, Cathedral, Boston College
Branson Deen, Lawrence Central, Purdue
Emil Ekiyor, Cathedral, Alabama
Levi Frazier, Lapel, Taylor
Bryce Gee, Fishers, Indiana State
Isaac Guerendo, Avon, Wisconsin
Bryce Jefferson, Decatur Central, Illinois State
Emeka Jillani, Lutheran, Ball State

Will Kellison, Bishop Chatard, Miami (Ohio)
Luke Martin, Fishers, Ball State
Johnny May, Hamilton Southeastern, Indiana State
Cameron McGrone, Lawrence Central, Michigan
Madison Norris, Hamilton Southeastern, Indiana
Markese Stepp, Cathedral, Southern Cal
Reese Taylor, Ben Davis, Indiana
Tyrone Tracy, Decatur Central, Iowa
Jaylen Turner, Tech, Ball State
Travon Vinson, Lawrence Central, UIndy
EJ Williams, Pike, Eastern Michigan
Henry Woodcock, Cardinal Ritter, Indiana State

 

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