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football Edit

Zach Buckey commits to dream school

Zach Buckey commits to Stanford, where his father played.
Zach Buckey commits to Stanford, where his father played. (George Ayonayon)

Zach Buckey will be a Cardinal. The senior defensive end from Garces Memorial High (Bakersfield, Calif.) will suit up in the cardinal and white just like his father, Jeff, who played tackle for Stanford in the 90s.

Jeff graduated from Stanford in 1996 and about 25 years later Zach will arrive on The Farm and get to work training to beat opposing tackles. Buckey chose Stanford over offers from multiple Mountain West schools, several Ivy Leagues and a clean sweep of the service academies.

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"I know Stanford is the right fit for me because it is the best place for me to grow as a person while also receiving a high class education and playing Top 25 football," he said in an email to Cardinal Sports Report.

Buckey has been in contact with Stanford since December but it got "more serious" in the past couple months. He has not done a virtual visit yet but that's not a concern for him considering how often he's been to campus.

"I have lots of memories of going to Stanford games; my favorite game to go to was always the Big Game."

Last year, Buckey had 24 total tackles, 13 TFL and seven sacks in 10 games, according to Maxpreps. He also is an elite discus thrower with a personal record of 173 feet, six inches. He's not sure yet if he will throw in college.

This is a valuable commitment for Stanford's 2021 class because it helps address a serious need for defensive linemen. Buckey projects to be a solid contributor with a low floor because of his strength and intangibles.

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