IMG Academy DB AJ Marks not 'logo chasing,' commits to Wake Forest

The new coaching staff at Wake Forest just splashed at IMG Academy.

The perennial power hasn’t had many secondary players start and impact as many games as class of 2026 cornerback recruit AJ Marks, and now he has come off of the board in ACC country.

“Wake Forest is the spot, Go Deacs!” he told Rivals. “With the staff that they brought in, I feel like we can make something special there. Especially with all the other commits we have coming in. I’ve got great relationships with everybody on the staff and it just feels like home.”

Marks says an entire group of coaches in Winston Salem helped to court his services, from head coach Jake Dickert on down.

“It started with Coach (Chevis) Jackson and the Recruiting Director Ty Gatson, those are my guys,” he said. “Then Coach (Freddie) Banks, Coach (Scottie) Hazelton and Coach Dickert. They all showed me that I was a priority and they really wanted me. Not too many Head Coaches are calling recruits regularly but Coach Dickert did with me.

The rising-senior recruit would make a trio of official visits before coming to the decision on Saturday evening. He spent time at Oklahoma State in the spring before a stop at UCF. The Wake Forest official visit took place the weekend of June 13.

The time in town provided clarity on not only the level of priority, but the plan Dickert’s group has with its newest addition.

“On my OV, they showed me and my dad a full four-year plan for me,” Marks said. “They see me as a guy that can move around to multiple positions and can cover and tackle. They expect me to play early, become a Freshman All-American and then an All-ACC DB one day.”

Marks: ‘Go where they love you’

The chance to make a splash and grow with an entire coaching staff had long appealed to the three-star, a Michigan native who has been courted by more than 30 college programs over the years.

“No logo chasing,” he said. “Go where they love you.”

As a junior in 2024, Marks made starts at three different positions at IMG, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors from the coaching staff. He registered 38 tackles, two interceptions, six pass-breakups and forced two fumbles in nine games of action.

Wake Forest now holds 20 verbal commitments in the 2026 class. Marks is the first among them to be playing prep football in the Sunshine State.