LEGACY FOOTBALL RECRUITING

At Legacy Football, we know how important it is to begin the recruiting process early and strategically for each individual player. We are committed to helping student-athletes achieve their goals and aspirations of playing football in college. Browse below our offerings for football recruiting and beyond.

ABOUT

The Legacy Football Organization offers dynamic and unique programming to support student athletes on and off the field. We focus on cultivating development and competition in order to assist families in reaching their individual and team goals. The Legacy Recruiting Department understands the recruiting process and the importance of educating and empowering coaches, parents and athletes. Our main focus with student athletes is to assist in building relationships, devise a comprehensive strategy and implement an overall recruiting game plan.

DIRECTOR OF RECRUITING: ZACH ZIMMERMAN

zzimmerman@legacycentermichigan.com

• Director of Legacy Football Recruiting (2021)
• Center Line High School College Adviser (2018-2021)
• Center Line High School Strength & Conditioning Coach (2016-2021)
• Center Line High School Assistant HC/Offensive Line Coach/Co-OC (2016-2021)
• Anchor Bay JV Football Offensive Line Coach (2015)
• Anchor Bay Freshmen Football Coach/Freshmen Basketball Coach (2014)
• Attended Siena Heights University on Athletic and Academic Scholarship (2013-2014)
• Anchor Bay High School Team Captain/All County/ All Metro East (2012-2013)

CONSULTATION SERVICES

Heisman Package
All American Package
Senior Package
Hudl Edit
Heisman Package

5 sessions (45 min to 1 hour per session). This package includes all of the Legacy Recruiting documents that correlate with the session topics (5 hours total, schedule based upon parents timeline of how long they would like in between meetings over the course of the year).

The Heisman package includes all of the session topics in the All American Package (see below) plus communication assistance with college coaches based on Elite Evaluators review of student athlete and a membership with:

  • Honest Game (1 Year)
  • Elite Evaluators (1 Year)
  • Signing Day (1 Year)
All American Package

5 sessions (45 min to 1 hour per session). This package includes all of the Legacy Recruiting documents that correlate with the session topics (5 hours total, schedule based upon parents timeline of how long they would like in between meetings).

Session 1:

Academic Analysis Session

  • Talk about NCAA/NAIA Core GPA and the importance of Core GPA and how it can impact level of play eligibility
  • Advisement on Honest Game partner and how they can be a resource
  • Discuss how high school counselors can be a huge ally throughout the recruitment process
  • Importance of SAT/ACT and different prep courses or practice tests. (Ex: MISD, local community college, Legacy KHAN Academy)
  • Who can recruit you depends on your GPA discussion
  • Intro to highlight film discussion

Session 2:

Player Evaluation and Different Divisions

  • Watch and review through highlight film with student athlete and family
  • Advisement on Elite Evaluators partner and how they can assist
  • Summary of ability (weaknesses and strengths)
  • Goal setting on weaknesses to improve standing
  • Advise on training options as well as Strength & Conditioning aspects
  • Discuss the differentiating factors of the football divisions
  • Typical measurable factors between different divisions

Session 3:

HUDL Consultation & Communication with College Coaches

  • Length
  • Quality and sequence of plays
  • Info screen
  • Overall presentation
  • How to send a DM/email/call college coaches etiquette with templates.
  • Tips on how to greet coaches

Session 4:

Recruiting 101

  • Target list of schools (10 schools, 2 dream schools, 5 attainable, and 3 fall backs)
  • How to structure and build your social media to be a resource towards recruiting
  • Apps that can assist in the recruiting process
  • Camps to attend vs. camps to avoid
  • College visit preparation and testing discussion
  • Timeline of high school career and what you should be focusing on depending on the year

Session 5:

Checks and Balances  & Financial Aid

    • Recruiting visit questions
    • Questions to ask yourself
    • Ten tips I wish someone told me discussion
    • FAFSA overview and explanation
    • How to maximize your financial aid
    • Outside scholarships and how they can help
    • Discussion on COVID impacts on the recruiting process
    • Review Final Highlight film
Senior Package

2 sessions (1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes per session). This package includes 2-3 hours total, schedule based upon parents timeline of how long they would like in between meetings.

Session 1:

Financial Aid 101

  • Discuss different types of financial aid
  • Discuss how to maximize financial aid at certain schools
  • FAFSA overview
  • Application tips
  • How to send a transcript

Session 2:

Financial Aid Reports

  • Review through financial aid reports from colleges (cost breakdown per year)
  • Understanding your package
  • College match and fit
  • Eligibility center information and how counselors can assist with the process
  • How and when to commit

Bonus: Recruiting presentations from different college football programs along with them explaining tips and tricks throughout different points in the recruiting process.

COLLEGE & NFL ALUMNI

Travis Smith

Cam Lewis

Avonte Maddox

Reggie Pearson

Abdur Yahmaan-Yaseen

Anthony Tyus III

George Talley III (Class of 2019) (siena Heights Signee)
Dejuan R. Garland (Defensive Line Coach) - Ellsworth Community College
DeShawn Gilbert (Asst Football Coach) - Olivet College
Jermond Harshaw (Class of 2019) Ellsworth CC Signee
Nick Hasting (Class of 2019) - Madonna University Signee
Levi Walker (Class of 2019) - Multiple D3 Offers
Coach Jeff Fantuzzi (Offensive Line) - Manchester University
Jeff and Mason Kirn (Rockford HS and GVSU)
George Talley III (Class of 2019) (siena Heights Signee)

Coach Zimm has helped me get to the next level by opening the door to the right direction and pushing me through it. He became the lineman and strength coach my sophomore year (3 years ago) and it has changed me so much. First look at me, he said “I’m going to turn you into an all-state left tackle” and sure enough from that point on, he took me under his wing. He always pushed me harder than I thought I could go and instilled in me the killer mentality and the don’t quit until I physically can’t move mentality. He would stay after the workout hours with me and workout with me. He drove me to my first camp and came with me to all visits and set all my visits up for me, he even held private workouts for me and the other players. Pushing me harder and harder with each year of growth, helping me grow as a football player and a man. He’s like a big brother to me, one that I can look up to and follow. I know that he is always there to keep it real with me no matter what the topic is, he is more of a brother than a coach at this point and I can’t thank him enough. Once I got into the college portion of my life at the end of high school, Coach Zimm helped me every step of the way through the FAFSA process. I had called him at least 3 times a week for 2 weeks straight and he walked through every step of the process for collecting grants and loans from both the college and government aid. Coach Zimm showed me the proper way to talk and address college coaches to show that I belong there. He taught me how to read what the college coach was saying and that showed me how to know what college coach was real and what coach was just saying what I wanted to hear.

Dejuan R. Garland (Defensive Line Coach) - Ellsworth Community College

Excited for Zach Zimmerman on his new adventure at Legacy Football Recruiting. He has been advising student athletes over the past several years academically and making sure all the boxes are checked from financial aid, test scores and applying for extra scholarships. I’ve had the pleasure of working with two of his former student athletes and didn’t have to worry about any paperwork. I look forward to working with his future student athletes.

DeShawn Gilbert (Asst Football Coach) - Olivet College

My name is DeShawn Gilbert and I am an Assistant Football Coach / Recruiter for Olivet College. I graduated from Siena Heights University with a Business Administration degree. I also was a student-athlete earning an All-American award and team captain. After my completion at Siena Heights I went on to obtain my Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership at Malone University where I started my coaching career.

I met Zach Zimmerman in college and he has always demonstrated integrity. We are in the same career of coaching now and I would trust him with anything which is still why we talk to this day. On the daily basis Zach demonstrates so much passion, concern, and love for student athletes. It is a very high priority for him to get his high school student athletes in college which I think is amazing. He works extremely hard at this task; in fact a few of his student athletes are planning to attend the college I coach at. This is amazing because some student athletes are very unfortunate and do not have the support system in their lives to guide them in the right direction. Some do not even know where to start or how to grasp the idea of going to college; they just know they want to and want to be successful.

When Zach presented me with the idea of joining Legacy for recruiting consulting, I was amazed. This business has the potential to not only help student athletes but also help college coaches as well. Both parties benefit from the ideas he expressed. Many students miss out on the opportunity to go to college simply because they don’t know to apply to college, fill out the FAFSA, understand financial aid, etc. This is why I think it’s extremely important that we start to help them out more and give them support. This business is a great way to do just that.

Jermond Harshaw (Class of 2019) Ellsworth CC Signee

My name is Jermond Harshaw and I am part of the graduating class of 2019. I share this achievement with a lot of my football teammates but I wouldn’t be able to say this if not for my college adviser Zach Zimmerman. Coach Zimmerman helped us with everything from off the field to on the field. He had personal meetings on what we need to do to graduate and had meetings about what schools we are applying to. He sat down with us and helped us step-by-step to make sure we understood if we were doing it the right way that was a great help in my process to graduation.  I honestly believe if it wasn’t for him, I would be confused and lost when It comes to applying for different schools, transferring, and other such things of that matter. I know he probably doesn’t hear it as much as he should but I wanted to say thank you to Zach Zimmerman for everything he has done for myself and my friends. His help and leader ship has created bonds for the rest of my life and he helped shape and mold me to become a greater man.

Nick Hasting (Class of 2019) - Madonna University Signee

Not all high school student athletes get the opportunity to be mentored and cared for like I have. Over the past four years of my life Coach Zimmerman has guided and inspired me to be the best that I can be everyday. He has always cared about me and my family as well. Making a college decision can be the toughest thing during a student athletes life and can also be very confusing when it comes to all the financials as well. Coach Zimmerman spent hours and even days setting up college visits and scheduling college coaches to come and speak with my class that had seven student athletes sign to play college athletics.  He did that for a variety of sports including wrestling, basketball, baseball and football. Coach Zimmerman was my football coach from my sophomore year all the way to my senior year. He began as an offensive lineman coach and worked his way up to being my offensive coordinator. Over my senior year Coach Zimmerman had brought in fifteen college football coaches into our high school to speak with six football players who could play at the next level. When coming to my decision of picking where I wanted to continue my academic and athletic career Coach Zimmerman sat and talked with me about all my options including all financial options, what school would best fit me personally, and how important it was to just communicate with him and letting him know where I would be happiest at. Coach Zimmerman is a down to earth type of person who truly cares about what happens to you after your four years of high school. He has always told me to never give up on my dreams and continue to strive for them. Coach Zimmerman is a true blessing and has helped me through high school, picking a college and mentored me to live by a lifestyle of helping and caring for others.

Levi Walker (Class of 2019) - Multiple D3 Offers

Coach Zimmerman helped me connect with multiple colleges and gave me advice on what I should do after high school. He was always honest with me rather if something was good or bad. He planned lots of college visits for me and would tell me good and bad things  about what he already knows about that college. Coach Zimmerman told me and plenty of others stories about mistakes he had made in the past when he was being recruited so that we won’t make the same mistakes as him. Thank you coach Zimmerman for your tremendous effort.

Coach Jeff Fantuzzi (Offensive Line) - Manchester University

Words cannot describe how well Coach Zimm is at his job. Coach Zimm has a unique skill set as a school administrator and a former college student athlete. He understands what it takes to not only earn a chance at the next level but also what is expected of you as a college athlete. Coach cared for each of his players as one of his own. I personally can attest that he will not rest until you reach your goals!

Jeff and Mason Kirn (Rockford HS and GVSU)

In addition to our high school staff Coach Zimmerman was a tremendous resource for Mason. He takes a genuine interest in the players he works with, has a deep knowledge of football, and provides honest input to skill levels and areas that need to be developed. Lastly, he has very strong relationships with a variety of college coaches and programs. I would absolutely recommend him for anyone wanting help with the recruiting process.

TESTIMONIALS

Steven Lucas (Class of 2017) Defiance College Signee
Scott Wooster (Offensive Line Coach) - Grand Valley State University
Davon Sears (Class of 2019) - Ellsworth CC Signee (Multiple D1 Offers)
Coach Nick Holeton (Eastern Michigan University Offensive Line Graduate Assistant)
Taiwan Jones (Former MSU Football Player & NFL Linebacker for the NY Jets
Tyler Conklin (Former CMU Football Player & Current NFL Tight End for the Minnesota Vikings
Steven Lucas (Class of 2017) Defiance College Signee

Coach Zim has been a great mentor to me ever since my senior year of high school. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to have coach very long because I was a senior but the time I got to be with coach were good times. I didn’t understand the academic process of going to college while I was in high school, I just wanted to play ball. It wasn’t until my sophomore year going into my junior year of college where everything had changed. I didn’t know what to do with schooling and honestly wanted to hold off on going to college because of all the money that I’m in debt in because of the school I chose to go to without having a care in the world about the “financial process”. Zim and I that summer had a long conversation about “How much im paying” and “Where am I going next”. Looking into any possibilities for me to go to school and try and lower the amount of money that I have to pay for college in the long run. Zim opened my eyes and had me look deeper into the whole college thing and not just have all my focus on just football but having my focus on something that’s bigger… My life. Glad that I had the opportunity to have Zim as my coach but also till this day, a great friend.

Scott Wooster (Offensive Line Coach) - Grand Valley State University

Coach Zimmerman’s mentoring and the guidance has been instrumental in getting his student-athletes to the next level.  His knowledge of the recruiting process, his work ethic researching best practice, and his relationships with Coaches and decision makes him a tremendous resource for student-athletes looking for the best fit in college athletics.

Davon Sears (Class of 2019) - Ellsworth CC Signee (Multiple D1 Offers)

My name is DeShawn Gilbert and I am an Assistant Football Coach / Recruiter for Olivet College. I graduated from Siena Heights University with a Business Administration degree. I also was a student-athlete earning an All-American award and team captain. After my completion at Siena Heights I went on to obtain my Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership at Malone University where I started my coaching career.

I met Zach Zimmerman in college and he has always demonstrated integrity. We are in the same career of coaching now and I would trust him with anything which is still why we talk to this day. On the daily basis Zach demonstrates so much passion, concern, and love for student athletes. It is a very high priority for him to get his high school student athletes in college which I think is amazing. He works extremely hard at this task; in fact a few of his student athletes are planning to attend the college I coach at. This is amazing because some student athletes are very unfortunate and do not have the support system in their lives to guide them in the right direction. Some do not even know where to start or how to grasp the idea of going to college; they just know they want to and want to be successful.

I came into Center Line High School as a 210/220 lb defensive lineman, clearly a raw prospect almost out of nowhere. Zimmerman saw my body and knew I had a ton of potential, so we went to work that summer. I went that 220 my sophomore year to 245 my junior year, thanks to Zimm’s workout plan. After I dominated during the season, Coach Zimm helped me get the interest of A few D2 and D1 programs. After not doing well on the SAT,,Zimm got me the hook up with a JUCO in Iowa and I’m blessed to say that I got my first d1 offer from the University of Houston.

Coach Nick Holeton (Eastern Michigan University Offensive Line Graduate Assistant)

Coach Zimmerman has always been professional and very knowledgeable of his recruits! I have been a football coach at multiple levels including NAIA and Division 1 FBS, and Coach Zimmerman has properly evaluated student-athletes for each level.  During the recruiting process Coach Zimmerman is always on top of where his recruits are academically and provided all the necessary information.  Coach Zimmerman also had the pulse on prospective student-athletes in the area and always promoted them as well.  It is very evident in my dealings with Coach Zimmerman that he has the student-athlete’s best interest at heart and ultimately wants to see them succeed both on and off the field. I can say with 100% confidence that I trust Coach Zimmerman’s evaluations and enjoy working with him through the recruiting process!

Taiwan Jones (Former MSU Football Player & NFL Linebacker for the NY Jets

One word I would use to call Zach Zimmerman is impactful. Knowing him as just a young boy at Anchor Bay and seeing him turn into the man he is today is something special. Since his playing days came to an end, I’ve been following what he’s doing on social media and it’s great to see what he’s doing with other young men in the area. He’s giving them hope and the motivation to make it to the next level, whatever that is for them. I’m really proud of the impact he’s having on these kids and I know he’s going to continue doing great things.

Tyler Conklin (Former CMU Football Player & Current NFL Tight End for the Minnesota Vikings

I’ve known Zach since high school where we competed against each other on the football field. I know Zach is a very hard working and caring person who truly wants the best for the young athletes in our area. I have complete faith that Zach will do everything he can to help the student athletes of Macomb county navigate the recruiting process. Whether that is helping them get film out to college coaches or helping them with their FAFSA to maximize the scholarship money that they can receive. All of these things are pieces of the process that athletes and parents don’t think of when it comes to becoming a student athlete, and Legacy Football Recruiting is here to help make the process seamless.

Recruiting Assistance 

For more information and to learn more about football recruiting at Legacy, please fill out the form below or email football@legacycentermichigan.com

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