Chandler Zavala Explained

Chandler Zavala
Current Team:Carolina Panthers
Number:62
Position:Guard
Birth Date:2 April 1999
Birth Place:Boynton Beach, Florida, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Lb:322
Draftyear:2023
Draftround:4
Draftpick:114
Pastteams:
Status:Active
Highlights:
  • First-team All-ACC (2022)
  • 2× First-team All-MEC (2018, 2019)
Statseason:2023
Statlabel1:Games played
Statvalue1:10
Statlabel2:Games started
Statvalue2:7
Pfr:ZavaCh00

Chandler Zavala (born April 2, 1999) is an American football guard for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Fairmont State and NC State.

Early years

Zavala was born on April 2, 1999, in Boynton Beach, Florida. He later attended Forest Park High School in Woodbridge, Virginia, where he originally played basketball before a coach advised him on playing football as it provided a better chance for him to receive an athletic scholarship.[1]

College career

Zavala played college football for the Fairmont State Fighting Falcons from 2017 until deciding to transferring due to Fairmont's 2020 season being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] He eventually chose to play for the NC State Wolfpack as his mother lived near campus.[1] Zavala was named first-team All-Mountain East Conference with Fairmont in 2018 and 2019 and first-team All-Atlantic Coastal Conference with NC State in 2022.[1]

Professional career

Zavala was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the fourth round, 114th overall, of the 2023 NFL draft.[2]

He was named the Week 1 starting right guard as a rookie, but moved to left guard the following week and started the next four games. In a Week 5 game against the Detroit Lions, Zavala suffered a neck injury in the first quarter. He was sent to a local hospital.[3] He returned to the starting lineup in Week 11 before suffering a knee injury the following week. He was placed on injured reserve on November 29, 2023.[4]

Personal life

Zavala's father, Demetrio, is a frequent contestant on the Food Network competitive cooking show Chopped.[5]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fawcett . Dave . How Forest Park graduate Chandler Zavala battled injuries and the NCAA to become an NFL Draft prospect . InsideNova.com . 27 January 2023 . 3 April 2023.
  2. Web site: Stone . Augusta . April 29, 2023 . Panthers pick NC State guard Chandler Zavala in fourth round . 2023-11-13 . Panthers.com.
  3. News: Owens . Jason . October 8, 2023 . Panthers rookie Chandler Zavala hospitalized with neck injury after scary injury in Detroit . . October 8, 2023.
  4. Web site: Gantt . Darin . November 29, 2023 . Chandler Zavala placed on injured reserve . 2024-07-08 . Panthers.com.
  5. Web site: Thompson . David . June 11, 2021 . Football, food, family: NC State football's Zavala learns lessons from 'Chopped' champion dad . 3 April 2023 . The Fayetteville Observer.