Zach Abey decided a few years ago that he wanted to follow in his older brother's footsteps by serving in the military. However, the Archbishop Spalding standout has also always wanted to play Division I football. Unfortunately, there was no way to merge those two goals - until recently.
Abey received the offer he's been waiting a long time for on Monday and quickly pledged his allegiance to the United States Naval Academy. Previously committed to the University of Buffalo, the Pasadena resident said a chance to play football for the Midshipmen and serve his country was the only scenario that could change his mind.
"I was very happy and comfortable with my decision to attend Buffalo, but I knew deep down that I really wanted to be at the Naval Academy," Abey said. "I just could not pass up the opportunity that Navy presented. This is a dream come true and really offers the best of both worlds for me."
Abey, the Capital-Gazette Communications Player of the Year for 2013, will spend a year at the Naval Academy Prep School before arriving in Annapolis. As a youngster walking the streets of the capital city, he was quite taken with the sight of midshipmen in their white uniforms.
"As a little kid walking around Annapolis and seeing the mids looking sharp and carrying themselves with such pride, I just thought that was really cool," Abey said. "I've gone to a lot of Navy football games over the years and pictured myself representing the academy and playing at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium."
It did not appear that would happen for Abey, who attended a one-day camp at Navy this past summer and made it clear to the coaching staff that he would love to join the program. However, the interest was not reciprocal and Abey accepted the scholarship offer from Buffalo after it became clear he was not being actively recruited by the Midshipmen.
However, Abey drew the attention of the Navy coaching staff with a strong senior season that also resulted in being named Offensive Player of the Year for the Baltimore-metro area by The Sun. Operating out of Spalding's read-option offense, the 6-foot-2, 215-pounder rushed for 1,653 yards and 19 touchdowns while passing for another 874 yards and 10 scores.
Abey was the rare starting quarterback who also played defense and was a force on that side of the ball as well, recording 50 tackles and leading the Cavaliers with six interceptions. In December, the four-year varsity letterman was selected to receive the Jim Rhodes Memorial Trophy, awarded annually by the Touchdown Club of Annapolis to the most outstanding player in Anne Arundel County.
"Zach really opened a lot of people's eyes with what he did this past season," Spalding head coach Kyle Schmitt said. "I think Navy took a look at his senior film and decided he did have the ability to play quarterback in their system."
Schmitt said offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Ivin Jasper started talking seriously with Abey in late November and within a month the youngster began the admissions process for the Naval Academy. On Monday, Jasper called Abey with the news he had earned acceptance to the prep school.
"I don't normally approve of players backing out of commitments, but this is about more than football for Zach. This is what he wants to do with his life," Schmitt said. "Knowing the type of person Zach is, I'm happy to know that he'll one day be defending our country."
Spalding primarily ran the zone-read option or the double-option, but occasionally showed the triple-option. Schmitt said Abey proved quite adept at sticking the football in the fullback's belly and reading how defenders reacted.
"Zach picked it up very quickly and understands the concepts of option football," Schmitt said. "I think Zach is a very good fit for the Navy offense. He's a big, strong, powerful player who has a real knack for running the football."
Abey attended almost every Navy home game in 2013 and held out hope that an offer would be forthcoming. It certainly didn't hurt that Jasper's oldest son Jaylen is a freshman basketball player at Spalding.
Abey's commitment means both Touchdown Club of Annapolis high school honorees will attend Navy. Jake Hawk, the Al Laramore Award winner as most outstanding linemen, committed to the Midshipmen over the summer.
Abey will become just the second Rhodes Trophy recipient to play football for Navy, joining 1980 winner Joey Papetti of South River. He will also be the second Capital-Gazette Communications Player of the Year to strap it up for the Mids, following in the footsteps of 1996 honoree John Vereen of Severn School.
