Four years ago, Zack Marcum left his home in London, Ky. looking for a place on the Troy football team.

Four years later, he has found it.

“It’s been a long journey,” Marcum said. “It’s gone by so fast.”

The 5-foot-9, 174-pound wide receiver who is now starting for Troy came to the school on an academic scholarship and was looking to walk-on the team as a freshman.

However, his first year at Troy would be harder than he expected.

“It was tough my first year here,” he said. “I almost considered transferring.”

The senior said that football was not the problem, but things going on in his life.

“I just had trouble finding my way when I first got here. It was a completely different experience [coming to Troy] than anything I had ever been a part of, so it took me while to get situated.”

Even with the trouble off the field, Marcum never let it affect him on the field.

Marcum’s head coach, Larry Blakeney said he loved the receiver from the first day he stepped on the field.

“Zack has always given the team his all.

“I absolutely love to watch him play, I think he has some of the most dependable hands on the team,” the coach said. “He is a dog-gone good competitor.”

That competitive nature that Blakeney talked about has resulted in 51 catches, 448 yards and two touchdowns over the course of Marcum’s career.

While those statistics may not be impressive to some, they speak volumes to his coach.

“It always seems to me that whenever we need something to happen, Zack comes up big for us,” Blakeney said.

“Whether it’s blocking or catching a pass – Zack makes the plays.”

Blocking is one aspect that the senior said he loves the most.

“I enjoy a block at the point of a play just about as much as grabbing a pass – it’s just a lot of fun,” he laughed.

This season alone has been the receivers best statistically, as he has brought down 28 passes for 282 yards and a touchdown, so it is easy to see why this has been his favorite season as a Trojan.

“To be starting and involved with the offense is such a thrill,” he said.

“I put a lot of hard work in over the years and to be able to contribute to this team, now, is an amazing feeling – I am having a blast.”