Zak Zinter

UPDATES

Week 5: Zinter continued his excellent 2023 season, again not allowing a sack or a pressure from Nebraska's defense in Michigan's 45-7 win. The Wolverines' guard has not allowed a single pressure in pass blocking this season. He was also strong on his run-blocking assignments. And for the fifth straight game, Zinter did not get flagged for a penalty. 

Week 4: Zinter didn't get charged with allowing a sack or a pressure, but his performance as a pass blocker in Michigan's 31-7 win over Rutgers was clearly his least effective of the season. The guard had a solid day run-blocking as the Wolverines rushed for 201 yards. 

Week 3: Zinter had an outstanding all-around game in the Wolverines' 31-6 victory over Bowling Green. In 41 total snaps, he didn't allow a sack or a pressure in pass protection, and he received the highest run-blocking grade (and overall grade) from PFF of all the Michigan offensive linemen. — JH

Week 2: An impressive day of pass blocking for Zinter in Michigan's 35-7 win over UNLV. The RG logged 50 snaps and didn't allow a sack or pressure on Wolverines QB J.J. McCarthy. In doing so, he recorded the highest PFF pass-blocking grade of all Michigan lineman against the Runnin' Rebels overmatched defensive line. — JH

Week 1: Zinter's line looks similar to linemate Drake Nugent: 58 total snaps, zero sacks given up, with one pressure and one hurry allowed. — JH

Week 0: DNP

HISTORY — from college profile

2022 (jr): Started all 14 games at right guard to earn his third varsity letter…Consensus first-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media…Part of the Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line…CSC Academic All-American (second team)...Twice shared Offensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against Penn State and Nebraska.

2021 (soph): Appeared in 13 games with 12 starts at right guard to earn his second varsity letter…Part of the unit that was honored with the Joe Moore Award, given to the top offensive line in the nation… All-Big Ten selection (Second Team, media / Honorable Mention, coaches)...Earned a share of Hard Hat Player of the Week honors for his performance against Washington…Started as the sixth lineman against Western Michigan (Sept. 4) and played relief snaps at right guard later in the game

2020 (fr): Appeared in all six games with four starts at right guard and also played on special teams to earn his first varsity letter…Made his collegiate debut at Minnesota (Oct. 24), playing special teams and snaps at guard…Made his first career start at right guard at Indiana (Nov. 7)

High school: Attended Buckingham Browne and Nichols School (Cambridge, MA) during junior and senior years...Coached by Mike Willey…Team Captain as a senior in 2019…Attended St. John’s Prep for the first two years of his high school career, where he made the Principal’s List each semester, before transferring to BB&N…As a junior, led BB&N to an 8-1 record and title game appearances in the Independent School League (ISL) and New England championships…Helped his team win the Kevin Driscoll Bowl to close out the 2018 season (NEPSAC Bowl Champions)...three-year starter along the offensive line (one year at St. Joe’s Prep; two at BB&N)...ISL Shot Put State Champion and NEPSAC New England State Shot Put Champion as a junior…Holds the BB&N school record in the shot put…Won the MIAA Division I shot put twice (freshman and sophomore years) and the discus state titles as sophomore

High school rankings and recognition: 247Sports Composite ranking of four stars, the 273rd player nationally, the 11th-best guard in the country and the No. 3 player in the state of Massachusetts…Three-star prospect according to 247Sports, the No. 389 player nationally, the 18th-best guard and the No. 3 player in Massachusetts…Ranked a four-star prospect by ESPN, the No. 14 player at his position and second-best in Massachusetts…Rated as a four-star prospect by Rivals, the No. 149 player in the nation, No. 16 at guard and No. 3 in Massachusetts…PrepStar Magazine Top 150 Dream Team member; rated as the top prospect in Massachusetts, the 17th-best offensive tackle in the country and the nation’s 123rd overall recruit…Boston Herald and Boston Globe All-Scholastic athlete in football and track and field…USA Today All-Massachusetts (2018) and Super 26 All-State Team (2019)...Two-time Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association All-State (2018-19); only underclassman on 2018 team…Two-time All-New England Prep School Athletic Conference (NEPSAC), earning the honor as a junior and senior…2019 NEPSAC All-New England Lineman of the Year…2019 Buckingham Browne & Nichols High School MVP and Lineman of the Year as a senior…Two-time All-ISL (2018-19) and two-time ISL Healey Lineman of the Year (2018-19)

PERSONAL

Zak Lyle Zinter was born April 17, 2001…Son of Paul and Tiffany Zinter…Family grew up in Port St. Lucie, Florida, until Zak was in middle school…Enrolled in University of Michigan School of Kinesiology, majoring in sport management.