A key cog in Michigan’s national championship run, Zak Zinter paved the way for Michigan’s offense for much of the season before his leg injury against Ohio State. Now, Zinter joins 17 other Michigan players hoping to hear their names called in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Is Zinter a starting-caliber lineman in the NFL?
Zak Zinter Draft Profile and Measurements
- Height: 6’6″
- Weight: 309 pounds
- Position: OG
- School: Michigan
- Current year: Senior
A four-star recruit out of Massachusetts, Zinter was one of the most decorated linemen in the class of 2020, winning numerous awards and state championships in both football and shot put.
Zinter made his debut at Michigan in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, starting four games at right guard, a position he would not cede for the rest of his Michigan career. Zinter started at right guard in every game in 2021, 2022, and every regular season game in the 2023 season.
Ready for my day job 🧰 pic.twitter.com/3GCaHVcTGD
— Zak Zinter (@zak_zinter) April 21, 2024
Zinter was named a consensus first-team All-Big Ten player in both 2022 and 2023, as well as first-team All-American in 2023, and finished as a semifinalist for the Outland Trophy in 2023.
Zinter’s Scouting Report
Games Watched: Nebraska (2023), Michigan State (2023), Purdue (2023), Penn State (2023), Ohio State (2023)
Strengths
- Very good use of hands in pass protection and run blocking.
- High IQ player; IDs stunts and blitzes quickly.
- Good play strength to anchor against bull rushers.
- Very good grip strength at the point of attack.
- Good balance and body control to seal defenders.
Weaknesses
- Recovering from broken tibia and fibula suffered in November.
- Average athletic ability.
- Struggles with quicker defenders moving across his face.
Current Draft Projection and Summary
Zinter is a starting-caliber offensive lineman in the NFL. While his relatively average athletic ability limits his ceiling at the next level, his good play strength and very good base of fundamentals give him a role in the NFL as a starting-caliber player.
Zinter has very good use of his hands when combatting defenders. His punches are quick, accurate, and contain quite a bit of power to jolt pass rushers.
He will continue to reset his hands if his initial punch doesn’t land and rarely gets beat fundamentally. In the run game, Zinter’s power shows in his ability to direct and escort defenders out of gaps and seal defenders out of the run.
He will struggle with quicker defenders due to his poor redirection ability and limited athleticism. This limited athleticism also makes projecting his recovery ability when beaten a challenge at best.
His late-season injury put a damper on his draft stock and caused him to miss the entire draft process. It makes his availability as a rookie difficult to project due to the rehabilitation process, but Zinter possesses the ability to be a high-end backup or starter in the NFL and fit in any scheme.
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