Anthony Zettel Explained

Anthony Zettel
Number:69, 97, 90, 92, 67
Position:Defensive end
Birth Date:9 August 1992
Birth Place:West Branch, Michigan, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:4
Weight Lbs:275
High School:Ogemaw Heights
College:Penn State
Draftyear:2016
Draftround:6
Draftpick:202
Pastteams:
Highlights:
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 a former American football defensive end. He played college football at Penn State. He was drafted 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 61feet, 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 175feet.[1] 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.[2]

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

Detroit Lions

Zettel was drafted in the sixth round (202nd overall) by the Detroit Lions in the 2016 NFL draft.[3] 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.[4]

Cleveland Browns

On September 6, 2018, Zettel was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Browns.[5] He was released during final roster cuts on August 31, 2019.[6]

Cincinnati Bengals

On October 17, 2019, Zettel was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals.[7] He was waived on October 21,[8] but re-signed on October 23.[9] He was waived on December 17, 2019.[10]

San Francisco 49ers (first stint)

On December 23, 2019, the San Francisco 49ers signed Zettel.[11] 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.[12] He was released on September 2, 2020.[13]

New Orleans Saints

On September 19, 2020, Zettel was signed to the practice squad of the New Orleans Saints practice squad.[14] 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.[15] He was released on January 11, 2021,[16] but re-signed with the practice squad on January 13.[17] Zettel was released again on January 16.[18]

San Francisco 49ers (second stint)

On July 27, 2021, Zettel signed with the 49ers.[19]

On August 6, 2021, Zettel announced his retirement from professional football.[20]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Anthony Zettel sets standard with new state record in the shot put for Ogemaw Heights.
  2. Web site: Seventy-five yard passes? 375-yard drives? 92-mph fastballs? For Penn State's Anthony Zettel, why not?.
  3. Web site: Detroit Lions add Penn State, Tawas City DL Anthony Zettel. Dave. Birkett. Detroit Free Press. April 30, 2016. April 30, 2016.
  4. Web site: Lions awarded DE Romeo Okwara via waivers from New York Giants. www.detroitlions.com.
  5. Web site: Browns claim DL Anthony Zettel. ClevelandBrowns.com. September 6, 2018.
  6. Web site: Browns cut roster to 53 players . ClevelandBrowns.com . August 31, 2019.
  7. Web site: Bengals Sign Zettel, Waive Perine. Bengals.com. October 17, 2019.
  8. News: Bengals Waive Zettel . Bengals.com . October 21, 2019 . October 21, 2019 . December 26, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191226185549/https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-waive-zettel . dead .
  9. News: Bengals Sign Zettel, Waive Willis . Bengals.com . October 23, 2019 . October 24, 2019.
  10. Web site: Bengals Sign Brady Sheldon To Roster, Waive Anthony Zettel. Bengals.com. December 17, 2019.
  11. Web site: 49ers Sign DL Anthony Zettel; Waive DL Jeremiah Valoaga. 49ers.com. December 23, 2019.
  12. Web site: Vikings Agree to Terms with Veteran DE Anthony Zettel. Peters, Craig. Vikings.com. March 25, 2020.
  13. News: Willekes Placed on Reserve/Injured; Roster Moves . Vikings.com . September 2, 2020 . September 3, 2020.
  14. Web site: Sigler . John . September 19, 2020 . Saints practice squad adds two free agents after tryouts . 2023-05-15 . Saints Wire . USA Today.
  15. News: New Orleans Saints announce roster moves . NewOrleansSaints.com . December 5, 2020 . January 13, 2021.
  16. News: Just, Amie . Saints activate veteran safety D.J. Swearinger from COVID-19 list, waive Austin Carr; see all moves . NOLA.com . January 11, 2021 . February 17, 2021.
  17. Web site: Just. Amie. January 13, 2021. Saints shuffle practice squad roster, release veterans K Blair Walsh, LS John Denney. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210114153110/https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/article_437c1bf4-55f2-11eb-bb65-3fde4737e824.html . January 14, 2021 . 2021-01-14. NOLA.com. en.
  18. Web site: Johnson. Luke. January 16, 2021. Saints make flurry of roster moves, activate WR Tre'Quan Smith off injured reserve. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210116230420/https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/article_caa658c2-5847-11eb-8820-13ecb4c5f322.html . January 16, 2021 . 2021-01-18. NOLA. en.
  19. Web site: 49ers Announce a Series of Roster Moves ahead of the Start of Camp. 49ers.com. July 27, 2021. July 28, 2021.
  20. Web site: 49ers Sign DL Davin Bellamy; Two Players Return from Reserve/Covid-19. 49ers.com. August 6, 2021. August 6, 2021.