Anthony Zettel
{{Short description|American football player (born 1992)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Anthony Zettel
| image = Anthony Zettel Cleveland browns 2019 preseason (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Zettel with the Cleveland Browns in 2019
| current_team =
| number = 69, 97, 90, 92, 67
| position = Defensive end
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|8|9}}
| birth_place = West Branch, Michigan, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lbs = 275
| high_school = Ogemaw Heights
| college = Penn State
| draftyear = 2016
| draftround = 6
| draftpick = 202
| pastteams =
- Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2016}}–{{NFL Year|2017}})
- Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2018}})
- Cincinnati Bengals ({{NFL Year|2019}})
- San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2019}})
- Minnesota Vikings ({{NFL Year|2020}})*
- New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2020}})
- San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2021}})*
| status =
| highlights =
- First-team All-Big Ten (2014)
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 76
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 7.5
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 1
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 1
| pfr = ZettAn00
}}
Anthony Joseph Zettel (born August 9, 1992) is an American former professional football defensive end. He played college football at Penn State. He was selected by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL draft.
Early life
Zettel attended Ogemaw Heights High School in West Branch, Michigan, where he was a first-team all-state selection as a senior. He recorded 82 solo tackles, 25 assisted tackles and dropped the quarterback in the backfield seven times as a senior.
Zettel also lettered in baseball, basketball and track & field at Ogemaw Heights. As a senior in track, he set the Michigan high school state record in the shot put with a toss of {{convert|61|ft|8|in|m|abbr=off|sp=us}}, earning his second straight state championship and breaking both the school record (60'9") and the Division II state record (58'8"). That same year, he finished second in the discus with a heave of {{convert|175|ft|4|in|m|abbr=off|sp=us}}.{{cite web|url=http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/news/article/-2470864148470980577/anthony-zettel-sets-standard-with-new-state-record-in-the-shot-put-for-ogemaw-heights/|title=Anthony Zettel sets standard with new state record in the shot put for Ogemaw Heights|publisher=}} He also participated in sprints, running the 100-meter dash in 11.55 seconds and helping Ogemaw's 400m sprint relay post a season-low 45.95 in 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/index.ssf/2014/12/seventy-five_yard_passes_375-y.html|title=Seventy-five yard passes? 375-yard drives? 92-mph fastballs? For Penn State's Anthony Zettel, why not?|publisher=}}
Zettel was rated as a four-star recruit and was listed as the nation's No. 6 prep defensive end by Rivals.com.
College career
Zettel played inside and outside during a 2014 first-team All-Big Ten Conference season at Penn State and recorded 17 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and three interceptions. He was moved inside in 2015 and his production dipped a bit with 47 tackles, 11 for loss, four sacks and six pass breakups.
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 3 7/8
| weight = 277
| dash = 4.81
| ten split = 1.66
| twenty split = 2.78
| shuttle = 4.39
| cone drill = 7.63
| vertical = 30.5
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 1
| bench = 28
| arm span = 31 1/8
| hand span = 9 1/2
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/anthony-zettel/32005a45-5462-9687-f6eb-ae2eb007a4d1 |title=Anthony Zettel Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=July 19, 2024}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=119412&DraftYear=2016 |title=Anthony Zettel College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=July 19, 2024}}
}}
=Detroit Lions=
Zettel was selected in the sixth round (202nd overall) by the Detroit Lions in the 2016 NFL draft.{{cite web|url=http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2016/04/30/detroit-lions-nfl-draft-anthony-zettel/83760092/|title=Detroit Lions add Penn State, Tawas City DL Anthony Zettel|first=Dave|last=Birkett|work=Detroit Free Press|access-date=April 30, 2016|date=April 30, 2016}} He recorded his first career sack against New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning in Week 15 of the 2016 NFL season.
On September 5, 2018, Zettel was waived by the Lions.{{cite web|url=https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-awarded-de-romeo-okwara-via-waivers-from-new-york-giants|title=Lions awarded DE Romeo Okwara via waivers from New York Giants|website=www.detroitlions.com}}
=Cleveland Browns=
On September 6, 2018, Zettel was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Browns.{{cite web|title=Browns claim DL Anthony Zettel|url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-claim-dl-anthony-zettel|website=ClevelandBrowns.com|date=September 6, 2018}} He was released during final roster cuts on August 31, 2019.{{cite web |title=Browns cut roster to 53 players |url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-cut-roster-to-53-players |website=ClevelandBrowns.com |access-date=August 31, 2019}}
=Cincinnati Bengals=
On October 17, 2019, Zettel was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals.{{cite web|title=Bengals Sign Zettel, Waive Perine|url=https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-sign-zettel-waive-perine|website=Bengals.com|date=October 17, 2019}} He was waived on October 21,{{cite news |title=Bengals Waive Zettel |url=https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-waive-zettel |website=Bengals.com |date=October 21, 2019 |access-date=October 21, 2019 |archive-date=December 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226185549/https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-waive-zettel |url-status=dead }} but re-signed on October 23.{{cite news |title=Bengals Sign Zettel, Waive Willis |url=https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-sign-zettel-waive-willis |website=Bengals.com |date=October 23, 2019 |access-date=October 24, 2019}} He was waived on December 17, 2019.{{cite web|title=Bengals Sign Brady Sheldon To Roster, Waive Anthony Zettel|url=https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-sign-brady-sheldon-to-roster-waive-anthony-zettel|website=Bengals.com|date=December 17, 2019}}
=San Francisco 49ers (first stint)=
On December 23, 2019, the San Francisco 49ers signed Zettel.{{cite web|title=49ers Sign DL Anthony Zettel; Waive DL Jeremiah Valoaga|url=https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-sign-dl-anthony-zettel-waive-dl-jeremiah-valoaga|website=49ers.com|date=December 23, 2019}} Zettel reached Super Bowl LIV with the 49ers, but the team was defeated by the Kansas City Chiefs.
=Minnesota Vikings=
On March 25, 2020, Zettel signed with the Minnesota Vikings.{{cite web|title=Vikings Agree to Terms with Veteran DE Anthony Zettel|url=https://www.vikings.com/news/anthony-zettel-agree-to-terms-veteran-de|author=Peters, Craig|website=Vikings.com|date=March 25, 2020}} He was released on September 2, 2020.{{cite news |title=Willekes Placed on Reserve/Injured; Roster Moves |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/kenny-willekes-placed-on-reserve-injured-roster-moves |website=Vikings.com |date=September 2, 2020 |access-date=September 3, 2020}}
=New Orleans Saints=
On September 19, 2020, Zettel was signed to the practice squad of the New Orleans Saints practice squad.{{Cite web |last=Sigler |first=John |date=September 19, 2020 |title=Saints practice squad adds two free agents after tryouts |url=https://saintswire.usatoday.com/2020/09/19/saints-practice-squad-tryouts-anthony-zettel-grant-haley-penn-state-football-news/ |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=Saints Wire |publisher=USA Today}} He was elevated to the active roster on December 5 for the team's week 13 game against the Atlanta Falcons, and reverted to the practice squad after the game.{{cite news |title=New Orleans Saints announce roster moves |url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-announce-roster-moves-12052020 |website=NewOrleansSaints.com |date=December 5, 2020 |access-date=January 13, 2021}} He was released on January 11, 2021,{{cite news |author=Just, Amie |title=Saints activate veteran safety D.J. Swearinger from COVID-19 list, waive Austin Carr; see all moves |url=https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/article_5aa78822-5467-11eb-99cc-5b6598c067f2.html |website=NOLA.com |date=January 11, 2021 |access-date=February 17, 2021}} but re-signed with the practice squad on January 13.{{Cite web|last=Just|first=Amie|date=January 13, 2021|title=Saints shuffle practice squad roster, release veterans K Blair Walsh, LS John Denney|url=https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/article_437c1bf4-55f2-11eb-bb65-3fde4737e824.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114153110/https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/article_437c1bf4-55f2-11eb-bb65-3fde4737e824.html |archive-date=January 14, 2021 |access-date=2021-01-14|website=NOLA.com|language=en}} Zettel was released again on January 16.{{Cite web|last=Johnson|first=Luke|date=January 16, 2021|title=Saints make flurry of roster moves, activate WR Tre'Quan Smith off injured reserve|url=https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/article_caa658c2-5847-11eb-8820-13ecb4c5f322.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116230420/https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/article_caa658c2-5847-11eb-8820-13ecb4c5f322.html |archive-date=January 16, 2021 |access-date=2021-01-18|website=NOLA|language=en}}
=San Francisco 49ers (second stint)=
On July 27, 2021, Zettel signed with the 49ers.{{Cite web|title=49ers Announce a Series of Roster Moves ahead of the Start of Camp|url=https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-announce-a-series-of-roster-moves-ahead-of-the-start-of-camp|publisher=49ers.com|date=July 27, 2021|access-date=July 28, 2021}}
On August 6, 2021, Zettel announced his retirement from professional football.{{Cite web|title=49ers Sign DL Davin Bellamy; Two Players Return from Reserve/Covid-19|url=https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-sign-dl-davin-bellamy-two-players-return-from-reserve-covid-19|publisher=49ers.com|date=August 6, 2021|access-date=August 6, 2021}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/anthony_zettel_770223.html Penn State Nittany Lions bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016201047/http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/anthony_zettel_770223.html |date=October 16, 2014 }}
{{Lions2016DraftPicks}}
{{Portal bar|American football|Biography|College football}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zettel, Anthony}}
Category:Players of American football from Michigan
Category:People from West Branch, Michigan
Category:American football defensive tackles
Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football players
Category:Detroit Lions players
Category:Cleveland Browns players
Category:Cincinnati Bengals players
Category:San Francisco 49ers players