Notre Dame RB Commit Markese Stepp Eager To Get Back On The Field
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It's been a long road back for Markese Stepp.
Stepp, a Notre Dame running back commit who sat out his junior season after injuring his hamstring on the first play of the season, is back at practice and approaching his last year at Indianapolis Cathedral with lofty goals.
"I want to win a state championship and go undefeated," Stepp said. "Those are my team goals. My individual goal is to run 3,000 yards and hopefully break the school record owned by Otis Shannon."
Stepp's first steps toward doing so will be on August 18 in Louisville, Ky., where Cathedral will open up the season at St. Xavier.
It will be the first time Stepp has played a full game since 2015.
He's more than ready to prove he's not only still the same running back he was then, but even better.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so eager to get out there," Stepp explained. "I don't know if a lot of people think I've still got it, but I know I do. I'm ready to prove that to everybody else that I'm better than I was when I left."
Since the injury, Stepp has been working tirelessly to return to form, and the Cathedral standout said he feels like he's gotten to that point.
But it hasn't been easy.
Stepp said that every single day in his extended offseason has been a grind.
"I've just been trying to get my body right, eat the right stuff and make sure I'm hydrating," Stepp said. "I've been working my butt off to get better and each every day."
With an injury like the one Stepp suffered in 2016, there's always fear that the pain could pop back up at any moment.
Stepp said the play he was injured on still runs through his head from time to time.
"It's still in the back of my mind, but it doesn't bother me or anything," Stepp explained. "It's hard to not remember when you step on the field and think 'dang. this what happened last time I was out here.'
However, Stepp said the old injury won't be holding him back whatsoever during his senior season.
"Oh yeah," Stepp said. "I'm 1oo percent."
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