Carl Zander

Zander played high school football at West Morris Mendham High School under long-time coach Richard Attonito. During his senior year in 1980, he played fullback, linebacker and punter. He rushed for 1,178 yards and 26 touchdowns on offense, registered 167 tackles (110 solo) on defense, and averaged 41 yards per punt, with a long of 83 yards, on special teams. He received All-State honors at the end of the season."[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=194&pg=60 1981 Tennessee Signees] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035235/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=194&pg=60 |date=March 4, 2016 }}," 1981 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide (University of Tennessee, 1981), p. 58.

Zander joined the Tennessee Volunteers in 1981, part of a signing class that included Alvin Toles, Reggie McKenzie, Raleigh McKenzie, Johnnie Jones, and Alan Cockrell. During his freshman year in 1981, he played only sparingly as a reserve behind veteran Mike Cofer, and registered 11 tackles (6 solo). His first start came in the finale against Vanderbilt, in which he had 9 tackles (1 for a loss) and a batted-down pass. He also started in Tennessee's 28–21 victory over Wisconsin in the 1981 Garden State Bowl, and registered a team-leading 14 tackles."[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=742&pg=62 1982 Tennessee Squad]," 1982 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide (University of Tennessee, 1982), p. 60. Though bothered by injuries during his sophomore season in 1982, he nevertheless picked up 35 tackles (20 solo) and recovered a fumble."[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=198&pg=58 1983 Tennessee Squad] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011082059/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=198&pg=58 |date=October 11, 2016 }}," 1983 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide (University of Tennessee, 1983), pp. 60–61.

Zander's breakout season came during his junior year in 1983, when he registered 129 tackles (67 solo), second on the team only to Alvin Toles' 135. He had 20 tackles (7 solo) in the Vols' opening loss to Pittsburgh, 13 tackles (8 solo) in Tennessee's 41–34 win over Alabama, and 19 tackles in the Vols' 13–10 loss to Ole Miss. In Tennessee's 7–0 win over Rutgers, which took place at Giants Stadium in Zander's home state of New Jersey, he had 16 tackles (7 solo), and shared "Player of the Game" accolades with Reggie White."[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=747&pg=64 1984 Tennessee Squad] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061356/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=747&pg=64 |date=March 4, 2016 }}," 1984 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide (University of Tennessee, 1984), p. 62.

As part of a linebacker corps that included Toles, Reggie McKenzie, and Dale Jones, Zander registered a team-leading 167 tackles, including 102 solo tackles, a sack and 3 tackles-for-loss, during his senior year in 1984. He also had an interception, forced 3 fumbles, and broke up 6 passes."[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=738&pg=105 1984 Defensive Statistics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304033112/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=738&pg=105 |date=March 4, 2016 }}," 1985 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide (University of Tennessee, 1985), p. 102. He had 16 tackles in Tennessee's 24–24 tie against Army,"[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=199&pg=45&catid=46&s=zander Game 3: Army]," Sun Bowl Press Guide (1984), p. C-3. and had a season-high of 22 tackles in the Vols' 17–12 loss to Kentucky."[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=199&pg=52&catid=46&s=zander Game 10: Kentucky]," Sun Bowl Press Guide (1984), p. C-10. In Tennessee's 28–27 loss to Maryland in the 1984 Sun Bowl, he had a team-leading 20 tackles, and received the game's "Most Valuable Lineman" award."[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=738&pg=103 Shut Out For Half, Terps Roar Back In Sun Bowl]," 1985 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide (University of Tennessee, 1985), p. 100. He was named All-SEC by SouthSports."[http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=738&pg=106 1984 Honorees] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914030053/http://diglib.lib.utk.edu/fbpro/main.php?bid=738&pg=106 |date=September 14, 2014 }}," 1985 Tennessee Volunteers Football Guide (University of Tennessee, 1985), p. 104.

During his career at Tennessee, Zander registered 342 tackles (195 solo), including a sack and 5 tackles-for-loss, as well as 5 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and 9 batted-down passes.[http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/fball-stats/z.htm Career Football Statistics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031171644/http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/fball-stats/z.htm |date=October 31, 2013 }}, UTSports.com. Retrieved: August 1, 2013. As of 2012, his 167 tackles in 1984 remains the team's 5th-highest single-season total, and the highest since the 1970s.[http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/guides/2012/records.pdf Individual Football Records] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113625/http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/guides/2012/records.pdf |date=March 4, 2016 }}, UTSports.com, 2012. Retrieved: August 1, 2013.

Zander was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round (43rd overall pick) of the 1985 NFL draft, one of three Tennessee linebackers (the other two being Reggie McKenzie and Alvin Toles) drafted that year.{{Cite web |title=1985 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1985/draft.htm |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} During his seven seasons with the Bengals, he played in a total of 106 games, and was a starter in 94. He recorded 8 sacks, 3 interceptions and 7 fumble recoveries (which he returned for a total of 99 yards).[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/Z/ZandCa20.htm Carl Zander], Pro Football Reference. Retrieved: August 1, 2013. By the 1989 season, he was the Bengals' defensive signal-caller, relaying the play from the coaches to the other players on the field, and modifying it as necessary to respond to the offensive formation."[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LoA_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=HFUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3465,1946959&dq=carl-zander+bengals&hl=en Zander is the Esiason of the Bengals' Defense]," Portsmouth Daily Times, September 20, 1989, p. 11.

Zander was in the starting lineup for the Bengals' 20–16 loss to San Francisco in Super Bowl XXIII.{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XXIII - Cincinnati Bengals vs. San Francisco 49ers - January 22nd, 1989 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198901220cin.htm |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He had three tackles in the game."[http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/020305aae.html Former Vols Dot Super Bowl Landscape]," UTSports.com, February 3, 2005. Retrieved: August 1, 2013.

Zander contemplated retiring in March 1991 after the Bengals offered him a contract he considered insufficient, and missed the first two games of the season, but played during the remaining 14 games."[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hV1BAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C6kMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1696,2842223&dq=carl-zander+bengals&hl=en Bengals' Zander Considering Retirement]," Harlan Daily Enterprise, March 14, 1991, p. 6."[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DDNB&p_theme=ddnb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F50505774A80F4D&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Bengals May Start Zander]," Dayton Daily News, September 11, 1991, p. 3B.

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Category:1963 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Mendham Borough, New Jersey

Category:Players of American football from Morris County, New Jersey

Category:West Morris Mendham High School alumni

Category:American football linebackers

Category:Tennessee Volunteers football players

Category:Cincinnati Bengals players