Zach Hocker
{{Short description|American football player (born 1991)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Zach Hocker
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team =
| number = 2
| position = Placekicker
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|8|23|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Russellville, Arkansas, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lbs = 191
| high_school = Russellville (AR)
| college = Arkansas
| draftyear = 2014
| draftround = 7
| draftpick = 228
| pastteams =
- Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|2014}})*
- Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2015}})*
- New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2015}})
- St. Louis Rams ({{NFL Year|2015}})
- Cincinnati Bengals ({{NFL Year|2016}})*
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|2017}})*
| status =
| highlights =
| statlabel1 = Field goals
| statvalue1 = 10
| statlabel2 = Field goals attempted
| statvalue2 = 14
| statlabel3 = Field goal %
| statvalue3 = 71.4
| statlabel4 = Longest field goal
| statvalue4 = 51
| statlabel5 = Touchbacks
| statvalue5 = 9
| pfr = HockZa00
}}
Zach Hocker (born August 23, 1991) is an American former professional football placekicker. He was selected by the Washington Redskins in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL draft.[http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/profiles/zach-hocker?id=2543781 NFL Draft Profile] He was also a member of the Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, St. Louis Rams, Cincinnati Bengals, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Early life
Hocker was a two-time All-State player at Russellville High School in Arkansas and was inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame. He played college football at the University of Arkansas from 2010 to 2013 and made 61 of 79 field goal attempts during that time.{{cite web|title=Zach Hocker Stats|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/16916/type/college/zach-hocker|website=ESPN|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|access-date=October 28, 2015}}
Professional career
=Washington Redskins=
Hocker signed a four-year, $2.1 million contract with the Washington Redskins on May 16, 2014, but was released on August 30, 2014 during final roster cuts before the start of the 2014 season in favor of Kai Forbath.{{cite news|work=WashingtonPost.com|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/wp/2014/05/16/redskins-sign-six-of-eight-draft-picks-to-rookie-deals/|title=Redskins sign six of eight draft picks to rookie deals|first=Mike|last=Jones|date=May 16, 2014|access-date=May 17, 2014}}{{cite news|work=WashingtonPost.com|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/wp/2014/08/30/redskins-cut-rookie-pk-zach-hocker-sparing-kai-forbath/|title=Redskins cut rookie kicker Zach Hocker, sparing Kai Forbath|first=Liz|last=Clarke|date=August 30, 2014|access-date=August 30, 2014}}
=Miami Dolphins=
Hocker signed a futures contract with the Miami Dolphins on January 8, 2015, but was waived three months later.{{cite web|work=CBSLocal.com|url=http://miami.cbslocal.com/2015/01/08/dolphins-sign-k-hocker-to-compete-with-caleb-sturgis/|title=Dolphins Sign K Hocker To Compete With Caleb Sturgis|date=January 8, 2015|access-date=May 2, 2015|first=David|last=Dwork}}{{cite news|work=NBCSports.com|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/05/05/dolphins-waive-cb-lowell-rose-two-others/|title=Dolphins waive CB Lowell Rose, two others|first=Mike|last=Wilkening|date=May 5, 2015|access-date=May 5, 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Nogle|first1=Kevin|title=Dolphins Waive T.J. Heath, Zach Hocker, and Lowell Rose|url=http://www.thephinsider.com/2015/5/5/8557381/dolphins-waive-t-j-heath-zach-hocker-and-lowell-rose|website=SB Nation|publisher=Vox Media, Inc.|access-date=October 28, 2015|date=May 5, 2015}}
=New Orleans Saints=
On May 17, 2015, the New Orleans Saints signed Hocker, who beat out Dustin Hopkins to start the 2015 season as the Saints kicker.{{cite news|work=NBCSports.com|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/05/17/reports-saints-add-pk-zach-hocker-two-rookies/|title=Reports: Saints add PK Zach Hocker, two rookies|first=Mike|last=Wilkening|date=May 17, 2015|access-date=May 25, 2015}} However, Hocker went on to miss 4 of 13 field goals over the first six games of the season, including a potentially game-winning field goal against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4. The Saints consequently released Hocker on October 19, 2015 and signed Forbath. Forbath had earlier been released by the Washington Redskins and been replaced with Hopkins, whom Hocker beat in camp. ESPN referred to the situation as a continuation of the "NFL's kicking carousel."{{cite web|title=Zach Hocker Stats|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/16916/zach-hocker|website=ESPN|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|access-date=October 28, 2015}}{{cite web|title=Saints release Zach Hocker, continue the NFL's kicking carousel|url=http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/new-orleans-saints-zach-hocker-kai-forbath-101915|website=Fox Sports|publisher=Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC|access-date=October 28, 2015|date=October 20, 2015}}
=St. Louis Rams=
On November 28, 2015, Hocker signed with the St. Louis Rams after their regular kicker, Greg Zuerlein, was injured.{{Cite web|url=https://archauthority.com/2015/11/28/st-louis-rams-sign-kicker-zach-hocker-release-te-justice-cunningham/|title=St. Louis Rams Sign Kicker Zach Hocker, Release TE Justice Cunningham|date=November 28, 2015|website=Arch Authority|access-date=May 22, 2016}} Hocker was active in two games before Zuerlein returned, and was released on December 15, 2015.{{cite news |url=http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/zach-hocker-released-by-the-rams/ |title= Zach Hocker: Released by the Rams |work=CBS Sports |date=December 15, 2015 |access-date=December 16, 2015 }}
= Cincinnati Bengals=
On January 5, 2016, the Cincinnati Bengals signed Hocker to a futures contract.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cincyjungle.com/2016/1/5/10719048/bengals-add-jayson-dimanche-to-practice-squad-sign-3-futures-contracts|title=Bengals add Jayson DiManche to practice squad, sign 3 players to futures contracts|last=Marcum|first=Jason|date=January 5, 2016|website=Cincy Jungle|access-date=May 22, 2016}} On August 29, 2016, Hocker was waived by the Bengals.{{cite web|title=DiManche, Hocker among first Bengals cuts|url=http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/DiManche-Hocker-among-first-Bengals-cuts/43c1852f-f988-4d36-91c4-b586a0ad38a4|last=Hobson|first=Geoff|website=Bengals.com|access-date=2016-09-01|archive-date=2017-08-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806020225/http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/DiManche-Hocker-among-first-Bengals-cuts/43c1852f-f988-4d36-91c4-b586a0ad38a4|url-status=dead}}
=Tampa Bay Buccaneers=
On August 13, 2017, Hocker was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.{{cite web|title=Bucs Add Kicker Zach Hocker|url=http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-smith/Bucs-Add-Kicker-Zach-Hocker/66c0b82b-c6f8-4f37-a94d-046f1c4da754|author=Smith, Scott|website=Buccaneers.com|date=August 13, 2017}} He was released on September 2, 2017.{{cite web|title=Wide Variety of Moves Gets Bucs to 53|url=http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-1/Wide-Variety-of-Moves-Gets-Bucs-to-53/229beb34-4568-4236-8cc8-4ad794feb408|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208151620/http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-1/Wide-Variety-of-Moves-Gets-Bucs-to-53/229beb34-4568-4236-8cc8-4ad794feb408|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 8, 2017|author=Smith, Scott|website=Buccaneers.com|date=September 2, 2017}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/sport/m-footbl/2013/roster/53d7e947e4b0ad6118572eb4 Arkansas Razorbacks bio]
{{Redskins2014DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hocker, Zach}}
Category:American football placekickers
Category:Washington Redskins players
Category:New Orleans Saints players
Category:Arkansas Razorbacks football players
Category:Players of American football from Arkansas
Category:People from Russellville, Arkansas
Category:Miami Dolphins players
Category:St. Louis Rams players
Category:Cincinnati Bengals players