Zak Kustok Explained

Zak Kustok
Position:Quarterback
Birth Date:24 February 1979
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lbs:203
High School:Orland Park (IL) Sandburg
College:Northwestern
Undraftedyear:2002
Pastteams:

Zak Adam Kustok (born February 24, 1979) is an American businessman who was starting quarterback for the Northwestern Wildcats from 1999 to 2001.[1] He originally matriculated at Notre Dame, but suffered from a change in the offensive game plan when Bob Davie replaced Lou Holtz, who had recruited him. Early in his second season in 1998 he left the program and joined Northwestern after its fifth game in 1999. Despite playing only two and a half seasons for Northwestern, he is the current Northwestern record holder for many quarterback rushing and passing statistics, including single season and career rushing touchdowns, career rushing yardage, career and single-season consecutive games with a touchdown pass and career consecutive pass attempts without an interception. He was a 2001 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award finalist.

Early life

As a sophomore, Kustok led Lincoln-Way Central High School to a SICA West championship.[2] By the time he was a sophomore during the 1994–95 school year, he was as well known as one of the best football prospects in the Chicago metropolitan area as he was as a scholar who ranked first in his class of 925 students.[3] [4] He also started at point guard on the basketball team.[5]

In 1995 the Kustok family moved from Frankfort, Illinois to Orland Park, Illinois. Thus, as a junior, he transferred to Sandburg High School,[6] and he led them to an 11–0 start to their season and a second round of the 1995 Class 6A playoffs win against Schaumburg High School before losing to Romeoville High School in the quarterfinals.[7] [8] Entering his senior season in 1996, he was the top-rated quarterback in the Chicago area and one of 9 local players ranked among the nation's top 100.[9] [10] Although he was a standout in football, he earned a Chicago Tribune prep athlete of the week award for his basketball performance both as a junior and as a senior.[11] [12] In the spring, before his senior season, he announced that he intended to attend Notre Dame.[13] Kustok chose Notre Dame over Northwestern.[14] Kustok earned the 1997 Tribune Scholar Athlete of the Year award from the Chicago Tribune.

Entering his senior season, USA Today rated him as one of the top 25 prospects in Illinois.[15] That season, he again led Sandburg to the Class 6A football playoffs,[16] but the team only went 6–4 as he endured injuries and an inexperienced offensive line.[17] That season, he was an All-Area special mention athlete in both football and basketball.[18] [19] Although head coach Lou Holtz left Notre Dame following the 1996 season, Kustok remained committed to his replacement Bob Davie even though Ron Powlus decided not to enter the 1997 NFL draft.[20] [21] After his senior season, he was ranked as the second best quarterback (behind Antwaan Randle El) and seventh best football prospect in the Chicago area.[22] In his 1997 senior spring, he won the regional competition for the Footaction High School Quarterback Challenge, which qualified him to compete at the Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World against 14 other high school quarterbacks.[23]

College career

Kustok spent the 1997 season as a quarterback for the scout team at Notre Dame.[24] During 1998 Spring football, freshman Kustok found himself in a battle with junior Jarious Jackson, sophomore Eric Chappell, and incoming freshman Arnaz Battle for the starting role in a newly revamped option offense for the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season.[25] Kustok, like Powlus before him, was more of a drop back passer and suddenly found himself fourth on the depth chart at the beginning of the 1998 Notre Dame season.[26] In late September, he decided to leave the program.[27] [28] While at the University of Notre Dame he was a Dean's List scholar with a 3.519 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. He transferred to Moraine Valley Junior College near his family in Orland Park.[29] In December 1998, he committed to Kansas.[30] [31] However, Kansas received a commitment from Dylen Smith,[32] and Kustok received offers from outgoing Northwestern coach Gary Barnett, who was transitioning to a new job as Colorado Buffaloes football head coach as well as an offer from Northwestern.[29] In February 1999, Kustok committed to Northwestern.[33] [34] The following summer, incumbent quarterback Gavin Hoffman announced he was transferring to Penn.[35]

Upon transferring the date of his athletic eligibility was contested because although by all accounts Kustok left Notre Dame on September 28, his transcripts were not registered an official date of October 21. This necessitated a request for court ordered emergency relief in the Cook County Circuit Court.[36] He sought immediate eligibility which was denied.[37] In mid-September the NCAA settled with Kustok and granted him eligibility for the October 2 game based on the September 28 date.[38] [39] Kustok made his debut after Northwestern fell behind Minnesota 14–0 in the game and head coach Randy Walker removed starter Nick Kreinbrink.[40] [41] The following week, he started against Indiana.[42] [43]

He was a 2001 finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award along with Joey Harrington, David Carr, Eric Crouch and Kurt Kittner.[1] During that season as team co-captain and team MVP, he compiled a school-record and Big Ten-leading 3,272 yards of total offense, which ranked tenth in the nation.[44] He was co-MVP of the 2000 Alamo Bowl along with Dan Alexander and Kyle Vanden Bosch of Nebraska.[45]

Kustok graduated with the following Northwestern football records,[46] many of which have been broken:[47]

Professional career

Kustok was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent on April 26, 2002 following the 2002 NFL draft. He was waived on August 26 during initial roster cuts.[48] After spending the 2002 season out of football, Kustok signed with the Green Bay Packers on February 7, 2003. He was allocated to NFL Europe on February 14 to play for the Berlin Thunder, and returned to the Packers on March 25. He was waived on June 17.[48] [49] Kustok was signed by the Chicago Bears to a two-year contract on March 26, 2004. He was released on May 2.

Personal life

Kustok is the son of Allan and the late Anita Kustok, as well as the brother of YES sports reporter, Sarah Kustok. His wife Nicole (née Kuznia) was named Minnesota's 1999 Junior Miss and was also a cross country runner at Northwestern. In 2014, Zak graduated the University of Notre Dame with an M.B.A.

On September 29, 2010, Kustok's mother was shot and killed; his father Allan was accused of the homicide. Unlike his sister, Zak did not support his father at the trial. Allan was tried and convicted in February 2014; he was sentenced to 60 years in prison without eligibility for parole.[50]

Notes and References

  1. News: What ever happened to...NU's Zak Kustok. https://web.archive.org/web/20060905073117/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/uwire/050406aac.html. dead. September 5, 2006. Tao. Anthony. May 4, 2006. Daily Northwestern. October 13, 2009.
  2. Web site: Condotti Appears Bound for Lyons . January 22, 2010 . January 7, 1994. Chicago Sun-Times. 90.
  3. Web site: Football '94: The Best and the Brightest – Super Teams, Players And All the Favorites . 110 . January 22, 2010. August 19, 1994. Chicago Sun-Times. Bell, Taylor.
  4. Web site: Lemming Looks At the Top 20. 41. January 22, 2010. September 25, 1994. Chicago Sun-Times. Bell, Taylor.
  5. Web site: Lincoln-Way's Task Wont Be Easy – Knights Hope To Contain Bell, Slow Down Joliet Transition Game . 14 . January 22, 2010. December 9, 1994. Chicago Tribune. Walsh, Scott.
  6. Web site: Lincoln-Way Has A Big Zak Attack. 12, Sports section . January 23, 2010 . October 13, 1995 . Chicago Tribune. Sakamoto, Bob.
  7. Web site: Sandburg on Mission, Gets Past Schaumburg. 29 . January 23, 2010. November 5, 1995. . Ruane, Dan.
  8. Web site: Romeoville Pitches A Shutout. 18, Sports section . January 23, 2010 . November 12, 1995 . Chicago Tribune. Harrison, Bill.
  9. Web site: Kustok Is Top QB For 1996 . 34. January 23, 2010. October 29, 1995. Chicago Sun-Times.
  10. Web site: 9 Chicago-area football players among top 100 . 106 . January 23, 2010 . August 16, 1996 . . Bell, Taylor.
  11. Web site: Prep athletes of the week.. 6, Sports section. January 23, 2010. January 9, 1996. Chicago Tribune.
  12. Web site: Prep athletes of the week.. 9, Sports section. January 23, 2010. January 14, 1997. Chicago Tribune.
  13. Web site: For The Record . 17C . January 23, 2010 . April 22, 1996 . USA Today.
  14. Web site: NU needs another big season of recruiting . 110. January 23, 2010. July 19, 1996. . Bell, Taylor.
  15. Web site: State-by-state capsules [Part 1 of 2] ]. 14C . January 23, 2010 . August 28, 1996 . USA Today.
  16. Web site: Wheaton-Warrenville South 34, Sandburg 7 – QB Brylka Grants Tigers' Wishes In 6A. 24, Sports section . January 23, 2010 . November 3, 1996. Chicago Tribune. Nickel, Lori.
  17. Web site: Sandburg QB Shows His Class In Letter To Foe. 12, Sports section . January 23, 2010 . November 18, 1996 . Chicago Tribune. Sakamoto, Bob.
  18. Web site: All-Area Special Mention . 106 . January 23, 2010 . November 11, 1996 . Chicago Sun-Times.
  19. Web site: Special Mention . 109 . January 23, 2010 . March 7, 1997 . Chicago Sun-Times.
  20. Web site: Next two weekends key for Notre Dame recruiting . 31 . January 23, 2010 . January 12, 1997 . .
  21. Web site: Zak Kustok, QB, Sandburg: Notre Dame – Commitment Remains Despite Irish Changes . 7, Sports section . January 23, 2010. February 5, 1997. . Merkin, Scott.
  22. Web site: Seven area football stars among nation's top 100 . 35 . January 23, 2010. January 19, 1997. Chicago Sun-Times.
  23. Web site: ND-Bound Sandburg Star Enjoys Taste Of Big Time . 21, Sports section . January 23, 2010 . April 13, 1997 . Chicago Tribune. Lee, Andy.
  24. Web site: QB Kustok ready, willing and able – Irish freshman knows pressure . January 23, 2010. November 5, 1997. 131. Chicago Sun-Times. Potash, Mark . Joe Raymond . amp .
  25. Web site: Mobile QBs give Irish plenty of options – Notre Dame will unveil new offense after Blue-Gold Game . January 24, 2010. April 24, 1998. 121. Chicago Sun-Times. Potash, Mark.
  26. Web site: Demoted Kustok may opt out . January 24, 2010. September 2, 1998. 105. . Ginnetti, Toni.
  27. Web site: Sandburg's Kustok leaving Notre Dame. Modrowski, Roman. Herb Gould. September 29, 1998. Chicago Sun-Times. 100. registration. January 24, 2010. Greg Couch.
  28. Web site: KUSTOK LEAVING NOTRE DAME. Malcolm Moran. Jack Thompson (Compiled by). 1998-09-30. chicagotribune.com. en-US. 2020-02-12.
  29. Web site: Notre Dame Transfer Wavers On KU * Quarterback Zak Kustok Has Visited Northwestern And Received An Offer From Colorado . January 24, 2010 . February 2, 1999. 2C . The Wichita Eagle. Plumlee, Rick.
  30. Web site: Zak Kustok Was A Redshirt At Notred Dame During His First Season Out Of High School . January 24, 2010 . December 7, 1998 . Journal-World. Hartsock, Andrew.
  31. Web site: Transfer, Please: Dome Not A Home – Ex-Sandburg Star Quits ND For Kansas . January 24, 2010 . December 17, 1998 . 3, Sports section. Chicago Tribune. Merkin, Scott.
  32. Web site: Jayhawks land standout QB . January 24, 2010 . January 20, 1999 . D4 . The Kansas City Star. Dutton, Bob.
  33. Web site: Bye, Bye Irish: Kustok Is Coming Home To NU . January 24, 2010. February 3, 1999. 8, Sports section . Chicago Tribune. Sakamoto, Bob.
  34. Web site: Kustok 's road winds up at NU . January 24, 2010. February 3, 1999. 105. Chicago Sun-Times. Couch, Greg.
  35. Web site: QB Hoffman Leaves NU To Attend Pennsylvania . January 24, 2010 . February 3, 1999. 7, Sports section. . Bagnato, Andrew.
  36. Web site: NU's Kustok wants court to grant instant eligibility . January 26, 2010 . August 31, 1999 . Chicago Sun-Times. Chung, Jeanie. 94.
  37. Web site: NU QB Kustok Ruled Ineligible. January 26, 2010 . September 2, 1999. . Hepp, Rick. 1, Online edition.
  38. Web site: Kustok Earns Eligibility Oct. 2 . January 26, 2010. September 17, 1999 . Chicago Tribune. Bagnato, Andrew . 9, Sports section.
  39. Web site: NU QB gets A-OK from NCAA on eligibility . January 26, 2010 . September 17, 1999 . . Willhite, Lindsey. 1, Sports section.
  40. Web site: Kustok Providing NU Another Option at QB . January 26, 2010 . October 3, 1999 . . Myslenski, Skip. 7, Sports section.
  41. Web site: Kustok makes impressive debut in relief of Kreinbrink . January 26, 2010 . October 3, 1999 . Chicago Sun-Times. Chung, Jeanie . 8, Sports Sunday section.
  42. Web site: Walker Tabs Kustok For First Start At NU . January 26, 2010 . October 5, 1999. . Myslenski, Skip. 2, Sports section.
  43. Web site: Kustok gets starting nod as Wildcats' quarterback. January 26, 2010 . October 5, 1999 . Chicago Sun-Times. Chung, Jeanie, Herb Gould and John Jackson . 98.
  44. Web site: Zak Kustok Named 2001 MVP at Annual NGN Football Banquet: Senior LB Kevin Bentley receives the first-ever Rashidi Wheeler Award. https://web.archive.org/web/20080217072243/http://nusports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120201aaa.html. dead. February 17, 2008. January 26, 2010. CBS Interactive.
  45. Web site: College Football: Alamo Bowl Past Most Valuable Players . January 22, 2010 . December 23, 2009 . The Sports Network.
  46. Web site: 10 Zak Kustok. https://web.archive.org/web/20080217071938/http://nusports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/kustok_zak00.html. dead. February 17, 2008. January 26, 2010. CBS Interactive.
  47. Web site: 2009 Northwestern Wildcats Media Guide . 177–9 . CBS Interactive.
  48. Web site: Packers Waive QB Zak Kustok . Packers.com . June 17, 2003 . January 20, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060129211608/http://www.packers.com/news/releases/2003/06/17/1/ . January 29, 2006 .
  49. News: Article: PACKERS WAIVE QB ZAK KUSTOK.(SPORTS) . https://web.archive.org/web/20121102230529/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-103653022.html . dead . November 2, 2012 . . June 18, 2003 . January 20, 2010.
  50. Web site: Allan Kustok sentenced to 60 years for killing wife. .

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