Justin Zwick
Encyclopedia
Justin Zwick is an American football
quarterback
who most recently played with the Columbus Destroyers
in the now defunct Arena Football League. He played college football
for the Ohio State Buckeyes
from 2002-2006.
at Orrville High School
in Orrville, Ohio
. While there, Zwick's team won a state championship his freshman year. Following his sophomore year, he transferred to Massillon Washington High School
in Massillon, Ohio
, where he also played basketball
and ran track
. While at Massillon, he also played with future Buckeye teammate Devin Jordan. His senior year in Massillon was impressive, throwing for 3,821 yards and 40 touchdown
s. His 110 career passing touchdowns puts him at third all-time in Ohio high school history, and at the time of his graduation
, his 10,500 career passing yards was the state record. He also still holds the Massillon Tigers record for passing yards in a game- 407, vs. Javon Ringer
led Chaminade-Julienne
his senior year, and passing yards in a season- 3,281, also his senior year. He once held the record at Orrville High School for passing yards in a season, with 2,556 yards his sophomore year, but has since been passed.
Zwick earned several accolades following his senior year, including a consensus All-Ohio selection, being named the Associated Press
Co-Offensive Player of the Year, appearing on almost every All-American team, and garnering an Elite 11 invitation.
his freshman year, with Craig Krenzel
and Scott McMullen already ahead of him at the quarterback position. Following the 2003 season
, Zwick was expected by most to be the replacement to the departing Krenzel. He began the 2004 season
, his sophomore year of eligibility, as the starter
, and started the first six games of the year. During the game against Iowa
, Zwick was forced to leave with an injury, opening the door for Troy Smith
. Smith's exciting style of play kept him in the starting role, rendering Zwick to the backup position. He would return to the starter's role for the Alamo Bowl
following Smith's suspension from the team, and led the Buckeyes to a dominating 33-7 victory over the Oklahoma State Cowboys
. Zwick completed 17 of his 27 passing attempts for 189 yards in the bowl game.
The following season
, controversy abounded in Columbus
over which player should be the starting quarterback. Zwick started the season opener against Miami (OH)
, because Smith was still suspended, and the following game against Texas
. Many fans feel that Ohio State lost that game because of their indecisiveness at the quarterback position, with Zwick and Smith subbing in and out for most of the game.http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2159925 After the loss against Texas, Smith was named the team's full-time starter. Zwick would appear in four more games that season, after the Buckeyes had comfortable leads and the games were well in hand.
. Several weeks later, the Destroyers announced intentions to move Zwick to the practice squad, but he was given an outright release on February 24. Just two days later, though, the team signed Zwick to play as the backup to starting quarterback Matt Nagy
.
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...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
who most recently played with the Columbus Destroyers
Columbus Destroyers
The Columbus Destroyers were an Arena Football League team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team was founded in as the Buffalo Destroyers, based in Buffalo, New York, and relocated to Columbus in . They folded along with the original incarnation of the AFL following the 2008 season, after a total of...
in the now defunct Arena Football League. 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...
for the Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
from 2002-2006.
High school
Zwick played his freshman year of high school footballHigh 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....
at Orrville High School
Orrville High School
Orrville High School is a public high school in Orrville, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Orrville City School District. Their nickname is the Red Riders.-Ohio High School Athletic Association State Championships:* Boys Football – 1998...
in Orrville, Ohio
Orrville, Ohio
Orrville is a city in Wayne County, Ohio, United States. The population was 8,551 at the 2000 census.The J.M. Smucker Co., owner of the Smucker's brand, is headquartered in Orrville.-Geography:Orrville is located at ....
. While there, Zwick's team won a state championship his freshman year. Following his sophomore year, he transferred to Massillon Washington High School
Massillon Washington High School
Massillon Washington High School, is a 9 to 12 grade secondary school within the Massillon City School District located in the city of Massillon, Ohio. It serves students within the city of Massillon as well as parts of Tuscarawas Township...
in Massillon, Ohio
Massillon, Ohio
Massillon is a city located in Stark County in the U.S. state of Ohio, approximately 8 miles to the west of Canton, Ohio, 20 miles south of Akron, Ohio, and 50 miles south of Cleveland, Ohio. The population was 32,149 at the 2010 census....
, where he also played basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and ran track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
. While at Massillon, he also played with future Buckeye teammate Devin Jordan. His senior year in Massillon was impressive, throwing for 3,821 yards and 40 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s. His 110 career passing touchdowns puts him at third all-time in Ohio high school history, and at the time of his graduation
Graduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
, his 10,500 career passing yards was the state record. He also still holds the Massillon Tigers record for passing yards in a game- 407, vs. Javon Ringer
Javon Ringer
Javon Ringer is an American football running back for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He was drafted in the 5th round of the 2009 NFL draft. He played college football at Michigan State....
led Chaminade-Julienne
Chaminade-Julienne High School
Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School is a private, co-educational, center-city, Catholic high school located in downtown Dayton, Ohio, operated by the Society of Mary and the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. It is named after Blessed William Joseph Chaminade and St...
his senior year, and passing yards in a season- 3,281, also his senior year. He once held the record at Orrville High School for passing yards in a season, with 2,556 yards his sophomore year, but has since been passed.
Zwick earned several accolades following his senior year, including a consensus All-Ohio selection, being named the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
Co-Offensive Player of the Year, appearing on almost every All-American team, and garnering an Elite 11 invitation.
College
Zwick came to Ohio State as one of the highest rated quarterbacks in the nation coming out of high school. He was redshirtedRedshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
his freshman year, with Craig Krenzel
Craig Krenzel
Craig Krenzel is a former college and professional American football quarterback. He is currently a radio commentator for WBNS 97.1 The FAN in Columbus, which broadcasts the Ohio State Buckeyes football games.-High school career:...
and Scott McMullen already ahead of him at the quarterback position. Following the 2003 season
2003 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 2003 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 2003-2004. The team's head coach was Jim Tressel. The Buckeyes played their home games in Ohio Stadium. Ohio State finished the season with a record of 11-2 and placed second in the...
, Zwick was expected by most to be the replacement to the departing Krenzel. He began the 2004 season
2004 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 2004 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 2004-2005. The team's head football coach was Jim Tressel. The Buckeyes played their home games at Ohio Stadium. The team finished the season with a record of 8-4, and a Big Ten...
, his sophomore year of eligibility, as the starter
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
, and started the first six games of the year. During the game against Iowa
Iowa Hawkeyes football
The Iowa Hawkeyes football team is the interscholastic football team at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Big Ten Conference since 1900, and are currently a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
, Zwick was forced to leave with an injury, opening the door for Troy Smith
Troy Smith
Troy James Smith is an American football quarterback for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Ohio State.Smith has also played for the San Francisco 49ers. He...
. Smith's exciting style of play kept him in the starting role, rendering Zwick to the backup position. He would return to the starter's role for the Alamo Bowl
Alamo Bowl
The Alamo Bowl is a major American college football bowl game played annually since 1993 in the 65,000-seat Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. It matches the second choice team from the Pacific-12 Conference and the third choice team from the Big 12 Conference.Traditionally, the Alamo Bowl has been...
following Smith's suspension from the team, and led the Buckeyes to a dominating 33-7 victory over the Oklahoma State Cowboys
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Oklahoma State Cowboys are the athletic teams that represent Oklahoma State University. Their mascot is a cowboy named Pistol Pete. Oklahoma State participates in the NCAA's Division I-A and in the Big 12 Conference's South Division. The university's current athletic director is Mike Holder...
. Zwick completed 17 of his 27 passing attempts for 189 yards in the bowl game.
The following season
2005 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 2005 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented The Ohio State University in the college football season of 2005-2006. The team's head football coach was Jim Tressel. The Buckeyes played their home games in Ohio Stadium. The team finished the season with a win-loss record of 10 and 2, and...
, controversy abounded in Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
over which player should be the starting quarterback. Zwick started the season opener against Miami (OH)
Miami RedHawks
Miami University, in Oxford, Ohio, features 18 different varsity level sports teams for men and women, all of which are known as the Miami RedHawks...
, because Smith was still suspended, and the following game against Texas
Texas Longhorn Athletics
Texas Longhorns athletics programs include the extramural and intramural sports teams of The University of Texas at Austin. These teams are referred to as the Texas Longhorns , taking their name from the Longhorn cattle that were an important part of the development of Texas, and are now the...
. Many fans feel that Ohio State lost that game because of their indecisiveness at the quarterback position, with Zwick and Smith subbing in and out for most of the game.http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2159925 After the loss against Texas, Smith was named the team's full-time starter. Zwick would appear in four more games that season, after the Buckeyes had comfortable leads and the games were well in hand.
Arena Football League
On February 9, 2008, the Columbus Destroyers of the Arena Football League signed Zwick to their rosterRoster
A roster is a list of names of people involved with an organization of some kind.A roster can be a list of people and the times when they are required to work or a list of students in a classroom....
. Several weeks later, the Destroyers announced intentions to move Zwick to the practice squad, but he was given an outright release on February 24. Just two days later, though, the team signed Zwick to play as the backup to starting quarterback Matt Nagy
Matt Nagy
Matt Nagy is a former gridiron football quarterback in the Arena Football League. He played for the New York Dragons, Carolina Cobras, Georgia Force and Columbus Destroyers in his six season career. He was signed by the Dragons as a street free agent in 2002. He played college football at Delaware...
.
External links
Sources
- (2004, December 29). "2006 Alamo Bowl History." Retrieved August 3, 2006.
- "Scout.com: Justin Zwick Profile." Retrieved August 3, 2006.
- (April 4, 2006). "State Records: Football." Retrieved August 3, 2006.