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College recruiting on the Treasure Coast: Trails & tales : Top Sport Stories : TCPalm

Zeke Motta returns from a five-day trip to find a towering pile of mail from college football recruiters.

Most of the letters are from Division I schools such as Florida, Notre Dame, Wake Forest, Clemson and Auburn.

The handwritten ones, Motta says, are extra special.

Motta, a Vero Beach senior, has hundreds more letters meticulously filed away in a crate, organized by school. He reads every one of them.

The first one came in the fall of 2006 from a Florida International University coach, who took an interest in him during his sophomore year. The rest flowed in over the winter after he was named first-team All-State and participated in invitation-only, 7-on-7 tournaments back in January and February.

At 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, Motta is a versatile defensive back who has the size and grades to attract the country's best colleges.

"It's a good problem to have," Motta says. "Trying to deal with all the coaches calling, recruiting companies calling, it gets overwhelming, but at the same time it feels good to be wanted."

Within an hour his dad's cell phone rings.

It's the University of Central Florida, checking to see if the Knights are still in the picture. College coaches can't call Motta at this point, but they can contact his dad, Bill Motta, because he is an assistant coach for Vero Beach High School.

He gets an average of six calls a day.

"At this point, just about everyone is in the picture," Bill Motta says after hanging up.

Motta, meanwhile, has bounced around the country looking for the right fit.

Motta has visited 21 schools over the last two years and has spent 24 days on the road since the end of school, attending camps or taking unofficial visits at seven schools with his dad. His father estimates the trips have cost $5,000, a worthwhile investment into what could result in $250,000 in scholarships.

"I enjoyed it, but it was tiring," Motta said of the travel. "It's hectic trying to evaluate all the colleges."

ZEKE MOTTA

School: Vero Beach

Position: Safety/linebacker

Height: 6-3

Weight: 210

Key stats: He led the Fighting Indians with 143 tackles and had two sacks, an interception and four fumble recoveries during the 2007 season. Named first-team All-State in 2007.

College status: Undecided. Has received 35 to 40 offers. Stanford and Notre Dame are high on his list, but no official visits have been scheduled.