Jeremy Zuttah
{{Short description|American football player (born 1986)}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Jeremy Zuttah
| number = 76, 53
| position = Center
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|6|1|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Edison, New Jersey, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lbs = 300
| high_school = J. P. Stevens (Edison)
| college = Rutgers
| draftyear = 2008
| draftround = 3
| draftpick = 83
| pastteams =
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|2008}}–{{NFL Year|2013}})
- Baltimore Ravens ({{NFL Year|2014}}–{{NFL Year|2016}})
- San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2017}})*
- Baltimore Ravens ({{NFL Year|2017}})*
| highlights =
| statweek =
| statseason =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 131
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 117
| pfr = Z/ZuttJe20
}}
Jeremy Kwasi Zuttah (born June 1, 1986) is an American former professional football player who was a center in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 2008 NFL draft. He was also a member of the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers.
Early life
Zuttah started for three years for the J. P. Stevens High School football team, becoming a highly touted prospect and turning down several college football powers for Rutgers.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110516204537/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-89802982.html "Sports Briefs"], The Record (Bergen County), January 24, 2004. Accessed October 9, 2007. "Jeremy Zuttah of Edison's J.P. Stevens, rated the No. 34 best offensive guard in the country by Rivals.com, will attend Rutgers, according to his high school coach, Frank Zarro." Zuttah's career followed in the footsteps of his older brother Jeff, who committed to the University of Michigan in 2003, but never played a down after team doctors became concerned about his sickle-cell anemia. Jeff later transferred to Stanford University.
He was rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com while being recruited.{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/player-Jeremy-Zuttah-17267 |title=Rivals.com |publisher=Sports.yahoo.com |accessdate=2019-10-26}} Zuttah commented that his final three schools came down to Rutgers, Maryland, and Pittsburgh.
College career
As a true freshman in 2004, Zuttah was a reserve player, appearing in nine games, with five starts at both tackle spots and left guard. In 2005, Zuttah started at left guard next to Pedro Sosa, forming a top combination that helped pave the way for Ray Rice during his freshman season. In 2006, Rutgers switched to a zone blocking scheme, and Zuttah subsequently moved to right tackle, in order to better utilize his athleticism in the scheme. Emerging as a vocal team leader, Zuttah earned all-Big East honors as the Rutgers offensive line only surrendered 8 sacks all season, the fewest in all of Division I-A, also ranking fifteenth in the nation in rushing.
In 2007, Zuttah was named to the preseason watch lists for the Outland Trophy[http://www.scarletknights.com/football/news/release.asp?prID=5472 Four RU Football Standouts Named to Preseason Watch Lists] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070702183700/http://www.scarletknights.com/football/news/release.asp?prID=5472 |date=July 2, 2007 }}, www.scarletknights.com and the Rotary Lombardi Award.[http://www.scarletknights.com/football/news/release.asp?prID=5087 Zuttah Named to Rotary Lombardi Award Preliminary Watch List] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023094439/http://www.scarletknights.com/football/news/release.asp?prID=5087 |date=October 23, 2007 }}, www.scarletknights.com He has been named a pre-season All-America by [http://www.athlonsports.com/college-football/10876/2007-all-america-teams Athlon Sports]. Zuttah was named to the 2007 Big East [https://web.archive.org/web/20080209114418/http://www.scarletknights.com/football/news/release.asp?prID=6134 All-Academic] and All-Conference teams. An excellent student, Zuttah graduated Rutgers with an economics degree in 3.5 years.[http://www.northjersey.com/sports/RUs_Zuttah_keeps_head_level.html NorthJersey.com: providing local news, sports and classifieds for Northern New Jersey!]
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 3 3/8
| weight = 295
| dash = 4.99
| ten split = 1.73
| twenty split = 2.87
| shuttle = 4.54
| cone drill = 7.59
| vertical = 26.5
| broad ft = 8
| broad in = 11
| bench = 35
| arm span = 33 1/2
| hand span = 9 1/2
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |title=Jeremy Zuttah Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/jeremy-zuttah/32005a55-5462-2937-f6c9-e90bcfb1cb1a |access-date=September 7, 2023 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |title=2008 NFL Draft Scout Jeremy Zuttah College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=33570&DraftYear=2008 |access-date=September 7, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
=Tampa Bay Buccaneers=
Zuttah was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round (83rd overall) of the 2008 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2008 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2008/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He signed a multi-year contract with the team on July 22. After 4 seasons with the Buccaneers, Zuttah had played in 58 games, starting 44 of them. Of those 44 games, Zuttah started 30 games at left guard, 9 games at center, and 5 games at right guard. Due to his versatility, on March 5, 2012, Zuttah signed a 4-year contract to remain with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/7647621/tampa-bay-buccaneers-re-sign-guard-jeremy-zuttah-four-year-deal ESPN.com!]
=Baltimore Ravens (first stint)=
On March 23, 2014, Zuttah was traded from the Buccaneers to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for a fifth round pick in the 2015 NFL draft.{{cite web|last=Wilson|first=Aaron|title=Ravens acquire center Jeremy Zuttah from Tampa Bay Buccaneers|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-sources-ravens-buccaneers-working-on-a-trade-for-center-jeremy-zuttah-20140323,0,7531042.story|work=The Baltimore Sun|accessdate=March 23, 2014|archive-date=March 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323224250/http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-sources-ravens-buccaneers-working-on-a-trade-for-center-jeremy-zuttah-20140323,0,7531042.story|url-status=dead}} On November 18, 2015, he was placed on injured reserve with a torn pectoral, ending his season.{{cite web|work=BaltimoreRavens.com|url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Ravens-Center-Jeremy-Zuttah-Put-On-Injured-Reserve/3709fb66-af73-4317-88e0-9022d6dbab92|title=Ravens Center Jeremy Zuttah Put On Injured Reserve|date=November 18, 2015|first=Ryan|last=Mink|access-date=November 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123193705/http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Ravens-Center-Jeremy-Zuttah-Put-On-Injured-Reserve/3709fb66-af73-4317-88e0-9022d6dbab92|archive-date=November 23, 2015|url-status=dead}}
On January 23, 2017, Zuttah was named to his first Pro Bowl for his efforts in the 2016 regular season. He replaced Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey.{{Cite news |last=Downing |first=Garrett |date=January 23, 2017 |title=Center Jeremy Zuttah Added To Pro Bowl Roster |url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Center-Jeremy-Zuttah-Added-To-Pro-Bowl-Roster/6870d118-affa-4477-9e78-345077648784 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202015916/http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Center-Jeremy-Zuttah-Added-To-Pro-Bowl-Roster/6870d118-affa-4477-9e78-345077648784 |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |access-date=January 24, 2017 |work=Baltimore Ravens}}
=San Francisco 49ers=
On March 15, 2017, the Ravens traded Zuttah and a 2017 sixth-round draft pick to the San Francisco 49ers for their 2017 sixth-round draft pick.{{cite web|last1=Meyer|first1=Max|title=Niners acquire Jeremy Zuttah in trade with Ravens|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000793305/article/niners-acquire-jeremy-zuttah-in-trade-with-ravens|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316011444/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000793305/article/niners-acquire-jeremy-zuttah-in-trade-with-ravens|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 16, 2017|website=NFL.com|accessdate=March 15, 2017}} He was released on August 9.{{cite web|title=49ers Sign LB Sean Porter, Release OL Jeremy Zuttah|url=http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/49ers-Sign-LB-Sean-Porter-Release-OL-Jeremy-Zuttah/aae7eeee-bc31-43bc-84fc-86e3ce147104|website=49ers.com|date=August 9, 2017|access-date=August 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809230239/http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/49ers-Sign-LB-Sean-Porter-Release-OL-Jeremy-Zuttah/aae7eeee-bc31-43bc-84fc-86e3ce147104|archive-date=August 9, 2017|url-status=dead}}
=Baltimore Ravens (second stint)=
On August 18, 2017, Zuttah re-signed with the Ravens.{{cite web|title=Ravens Bring Back Center Jeremy Zuttah To Bolster Thin Interior Offensive Line|url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Ravens-Bring-Back-Center-Jeremy-Zuttah-to-Bolster-Thin-Interior-Offensive-Line/8240881a-6574-4540-8c35-22e94c3a1212|author=Mink, Ryan|website=BaltimoreRavens.com|date=August 18, 2017|access-date=August 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819060425/http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Ravens-Bring-Back-Center-Jeremy-Zuttah-to-Bolster-Thin-Interior-Offensive-Line/8240881a-6574-4540-8c35-22e94c3a1212|archive-date=August 19, 2017|url-status=dead}} On September 1, he was released by the Ravens during final roster cuts.{{cite web|title=Ravens Announce 24 Roster Moves, Have 13 More To Make|url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Ravens-Announce-24-Roster-Moves-Have-13-More-to-Make/914aba64-f454-47d9-932f-e409ccec1735|author=Mink, Ryan|website=BaltimoreRavens.com|date=September 1, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118220814/http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Ravens-Announce-24-Roster-Moves-Have-14-More-to-Make/914aba64-f454-47d9-932f-e409ccec1735|archive-date=January 18, 2018}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{NFL.com player}}
{{Buccaneers2008DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zuttah, Jeremy}}
Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players
Category:American football offensive guards
Category:American football offensive tackles
Category:American football centers
Category:Baltimore Ravens players
Category:J. P. Stevens High School alumni
Category:Sportspeople from Edison, New Jersey
Category:Rutgers Scarlet Knights football players
Category:San Francisco 49ers players
Category:Players of American football from Middlesex County, New Jersey