Eric Zomalt
Encyclopedia
Eric Lee Zomalt is a former American football
safety in the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles
in the third round of the 1994 NFL Draft
and played for the team from 1994−1996. He played for the New York Jets
in 1996. He played college football
at California
.
in Moreno Valley, California
. In 1989, Zomalt was named CIF
Division 5 Player of the Year and state 2A Player of the Year in football
.
Golden Bears
.
in the third round (103rd overall) of the 1994 NFL Draft
. Against the Oakland Raiders
in 1995
, Zomalt started in his first game after Mike Zordich became injured. He became the starting free safety for the Eagles to begin the 1996 season
, but the play of rookie Brian Dawkins
forced the coaching staff to bench him after two weeks. Zomalt was released on September 18, 1996. He was quickly signed by the New York Jets
the same day. Zomalt started one game for the Jets at free safety, the season finale against the Miami Dolphins
. After the 1996 season, Zomalt became a restricted free agent
, but the Jets did not extend a qualifying offer to him, making him an unrestricted free agent. He did not sign with another team after his stint with the Jets.
in San Leandro, California
, Canyon Springs High School, and Citrus Hill High School
in Perris, California
, where Zomalt has been the head coach since 2010.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
safety in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the third round of the 1994 NFL Draft
1994 NFL Draft
The 1994 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 1994. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and...
and played for the team from 1994−1996. He played for the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1996. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at California
California Golden Bears football
The California Golden Bears football team is the college football team of the University of California. The team plays its home games at California Memorial Stadium, however the team played at San Francisco's AT&T Park in 2011 while Memorial Stadium was being renovated, the team will return to...
.
Early years
Zomalt attended Canyon Springs High SchoolCanyon Springs High School
Canyon Springs High School is a public high school located in Moreno Valley, California. Founded in 1987, it is part of the Moreno Valley Unified School District....
in Moreno Valley, California
Moreno Valley, California
Moreno Valley is a city located in Riverside County, California.A relatively young city, its rapid growth in the 1980s and the first decade of the 21st century made it second-largest city in Riverside County by population, and one of the Inland Empire's population centers. As of the 2010 census,...
. In 1989, Zomalt was named CIF
California Interscholastic Federation
The California Interscholastic Federation is the governing body for high school sports in the state of California. It mirrors similar governing bodies in other states; however, it differs from some of the others in that it covers most high schools in the state of California, both public and...
Division 5 Player of the Year and state 2A Player of the Year in football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
.
College career
Zomalt started at safety for the University of CaliforniaUniversity of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
Golden Bears
California Golden Bears football
The California Golden Bears football team is the college football team of the University of California. The team plays its home games at California Memorial Stadium, however the team played at San Francisco's AT&T Park in 2011 while Memorial Stadium was being renovated, the team will return to...
.
Professional career
Zomalt was selected by the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the third round (103rd overall) of the 1994 NFL Draft
1994 NFL Draft
The 1994 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 1994. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and...
. Against the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1995
1995 NFL season
The 1995 NFL season was the 76th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 30 teams with the addition of the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars...
, Zomalt started in his first game after Mike Zordich became injured. He became the starting free safety for the Eagles to begin the 1996 season
1996 NFL season
The 1996 NFL season was the 77th regular season of the National Football League and the season was marked by notable controversies from beginning to end...
, but the play of rookie Brian Dawkins
Brian Dawkins
Brian Patrick Dawkins is an American football safety for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft...
forced the coaching staff to bench him after two weeks. Zomalt was released on September 18, 1996. He was quickly signed by the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
the same day. Zomalt started one game for the Jets at free safety, the season finale against the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. After the 1996 season, Zomalt became a restricted free agent
Restricted free agent
A restricted free agent is a professional athlete who plays in the KHL, NFL, NHL, or NBA. Such players have special restrictions on the terms under which they can retain or change employment status with their athletic club teams.- NFL :...
, but the Jets did not extend a qualifying offer to him, making him an unrestricted free agent. He did not sign with another team after his stint with the Jets.
Coaching career
Zomalt and his brother, Greg, coached together at San Leandro High SchoolSan Leandro High School
San Leandro High School is an American four-year public high school in San Leandro, California. The school is a member of the San Leandro Unified School District...
in San Leandro, California
San Leandro, California
San Leandro is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is considered a suburb of Oakland and San Francisco. The population was 84,950 as of 2010 census. The climate of the city is mild throughout the year.-Geography and water resources:...
, Canyon Springs High School, and Citrus Hill High School
Citrus Hill High School
Citrus Hill High School is a secondary public co-ed school serving students of Moreno Valley, Perris and Riverside in the Val Verde Unified School District.-History:Citrus Hill High School opened on August 18, 2005 with 651 enrollees grades 9-10...
in Perris, California
Perris, California
Perris is a city in Riverside County, California, USA. At the 2010 census, the city population was 68,386, up from 36,189 at the 2000 census. The city is named in honor of Fred T. Perris, chief engineer of the California Southern Railroad...
, where Zomalt has been the head coach since 2010.