Keith Zinger
{{Short description|German-born gridiron football player (born 1984)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Keith Zinger
| image =
| caption =
| number = 89
| position = Tight end
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|10|9}}
| birth_place = Heidelberg, West Germany
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lbs = 250
| high_school = Leesville {{nowrap|(Leesville, Louisiana, U.S.)}}
| college = LSU
| draftyear = 2008
| draftround = 7
| draftpick = 232
| pastteams =
- Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|2008}}–{{NFL Year|2010}})
- New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2011}})*
| highlights =
- 2× BCS national champion (2003, 2007)
- Freshman All-SEC (2003)
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 1
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 7
| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue3 =
| pfr = Z/ZingKe20
}}
Keith Jackson Zinger (born October 9, 1984){{Cite web |url=http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=174958&Q_SEASON=2007 |title=Keith Zinger Bio - LSUsports.net - the Official Web Site of LSU Tigers Athletics |access-date=September 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616132054/http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=174958&Q_SEASON=2007 |archive-date=June 16, 2011 |url-status=dead }} is a former American football tight end. He was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL draft. He played college football at Louisiana State. He was a member of both LSU’s national championship teams in 2003 and 2007.
Early life
Zinger attended to Leesville High School and was ranked as the nation’s No. 13 tight end in the country by Rivals.com.{{Cite web |url=http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=174958&Q_SEASON=2007 |title=Keith Zinger Bio - LSUsports.net |access-date=September 23, 2008 |archive-date=June 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616132054/http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=174958&Q_SEASON=2007 |url-status=dead }} He also was named an Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super Southern 100, Baton Rouge Advocate Second Dozen and the New Orleans Times-Picayune Top 25 Blue-Chip list. Zinger also was a first-team 4A all-state selection and in his senior season, he had 322 yards on 23 receptions for two touchdowns.{{Cite web |url=http://www.atlantafalcons.com/People/Players/Active/Keith_Zinger.aspx |title=Atlanta Falcons- People- Keith Zinger |access-date=January 12, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116082447/http://www.atlantafalcons.com/People/Players/Active/Keith_Zinger.aspx |archive-date=January 16, 2009 |url-status=dead }}
College career
Zinger played in 13 games in his freshman season at LSU, caught three passes for 31 yards and was named Freshmen All-SEC squad by the league's coaches. He was member of the team that won the BCS National Championship in the 2004 Sugar Bowl, by beating the Oklahoma Sooners 21-14.
In 2005, Zinger scored his first career touchdown on a nine-yard reception from JaMarcus Russell in a game against Appalachian State.
In 2007, during his senior season, he played in 14 games and caught three passes for 51 yards averaging 17.0) and a long reception of 27 yards. He also had a career-long 27-yard reception against the Tennessee Volunteers in the 2007 SEC Championship Game. to help the tigers reach the 2008 BCS National Championship Game to defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Professional career
=Atlanta Falcons=
Zinger was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL draft (232nd overall).{{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 to a four-year contract.{{Cite web |url=http://www.atlantafalcons.com/News/Articles/2008/06/1-10/Falcons_ink_seventh-round_pick_Zinger.aspx |title=Falcons ink seventh-round pick Zinger |access-date=September 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530210200/http://www.atlantafalcons.com/News/Articles/2008/06/1-10/Falcons_ink_seventh-round_pick_Zinger.aspx |archive-date=May 30, 2010 |url-status=dead }} He was released on the final cuts
[http://www.atlantafalcons.com/News/Articles/2008/08/21-30/Birds_make_roster_moves_to_reach_53-man_limit.aspx Birds make roster moves to reach 53-man limit] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101211014/http://www.atlantafalcons.com/News/Articles/2008/08/21-30/Birds_make_roster_moves_to_reach_53-man_limit.aspx |date=November 1, 2008 }} but was added to the practice squad {{Cite web |url=http://www.atlantafalcons.com/News/Articles/2008/08/21-30/Falcons_sign_six_to_practice_squad_claim_Jefferson.aspx |title=Falcons sign six to practice squad, claim Jefferson |access-date=September 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090224082138/http://www.atlantafalcons.com/News/Articles/2008/08/21-30/Falcons_sign_six_to_practice_squad_claim_Jefferson.aspx |archive-date=February 24, 2009 |url-status=dead }} and spent the entire season there.
=New York Jets=
Zinger was signed by the New York Jets on August 7, 2011.{{cite web|title=Mason, 2 Others Signed, 2 Waived |url=http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-1/Mason-2-Others-Signed-2-Waived/292edad6-cf10-4c6c-b506-87a75df53f1a |publisher=New York Jets |author=Jets Media Relations Department |date=August 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820040950/http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-1/Mason-2-Others-Signed-2-Waived/292edad6-cf10-4c6c-b506-87a75df53f1a |archive-date=August 20, 2012 |access-date=August 8, 2011 |url-status=dead }} He was waived September 2.{{cite news|title=Jets trim roster to 53; make two trades |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/jets/2011/09/jets-trim-roster-to-53-make-two-trades |work=New York Daily News |publisher=Mortimer Zuckerman |author=Mehta, Manish |date=September 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103170833/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/jets/2011/09/jets-trim-roster-to-53-make-two-trades |archive-date=November 3, 2012 |access-date=September 3, 2011 |url-status=dead }}
Family
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{NFL.com player}}
- [http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=174958&Q_SEASON=2007 LSU Tigers bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616132054/http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=174958&Q_SEASON=2007 |date=June 16, 2011 }}
{{2003 LSU Tigers football navbox}}
{{2007 LSU Tigers football navbox}}
{{Falcons2008DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zinger, Keith}}
Category:People from Leesville, Louisiana
Category:German players of American football
Category:American football tight ends
Category:LSU Tigers football players
Category:Atlanta Falcons players