Keith Zinger
Encyclopedia
Keith Jackson Zinger is an American football
tight end
currently plays for the New York Jets
. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons
in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Louisiana State
. He was a member of both LSU’s national championship teams in 2003
and 2007
.
and was ranked as the nation’s No. 13 tight end
in the country by Rivals.com. He also was named an Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super Southern 100, Baton Rouge Advocate Second Dozen and the New Orleans Times-Picayune Top 25 Blue-Chip list. Zinger also was a first-team 4A all-state selection and in his senior season, he had 322 yards on 23 receptions for two touchdowns.
, by beating the Oklahoma Sooners
21-14.
In 2005, Zinger scored his first career touchdown on a nine-yard reception from JaMarcus Russell
in a game against Appalachian State.
In 2007, during his senior season, he played in 14 games and caught three passes for 51 yards averaging 17.0) and a long reception of 27 yards.He also had a career long 27-yard reception against the Tennessee Volunteers
in the 2007 SEC Championship Game
. to help the tigers reach the 2008 BCS National Championship Game
to defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes
.
in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft
(232 overall) and signed to a four-year contract. He was released on the final cuts but was added to the practice squad and spent the entire season there.
on August 7, 2011. He was waived September 2.
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...
tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
currently plays 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...
. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. 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 Louisiana State
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
. He was a member of both LSU’s national championship teams in 2003
2003 LSU Tigers football team
The 2003 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University in the college football season of 2003–2004. Coached by Nick Saban, the Tigers played their home games at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. After a bit of controversy, LSU won the BCS National Championship, the first...
and 2007
2007 LSU Tigers football team
The 2007 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University during the college football season of 2007–2008, winning the Southeastern Conference championship and the national championship. The team's Head Coach was Les Miles who entered his third year at the helm of LSU Football...
.
Early years
Zinger attended to Leesville High SchoolLeesville High School
Leesville High School is a school located in Leesville, Louisiana, United States. The 9-12 school is a part of the Vernon Parish School Board....
and was ranked as the nation’s No. 13 tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
in the country by Rivals.com. He also was named an Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super Southern 100, Baton Rouge Advocate Second Dozen and the New Orleans Times-Picayune Top 25 Blue-Chip list. Zinger also was a first-team 4A all-state selection and in his senior season, he had 322 yards on 23 receptions for two touchdowns.
College career
Zinger played in 13 games in his freshman season at LSU, caught three passes for 31 yards and was named Freshmen All-SEC squad by the league's coaches. He was member of the team that won the BCS National Championship in the 2004 Sugar Bowl2004 Sugar Bowl
The 2004 Sugar Bowl, the BCS title game for the 2003 college football season, was played on January 4, 2004 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The teams were LSU Tigers and the Oklahoma Sooners...
, by beating the Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners
The University of Oklahoma features 19 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's teams are called the Sooners, a nickname given to the early participants in the land rushes which initially opened the Oklahoma Indian Territory to non-native settlement. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A,...
21-14.
In 2005, Zinger scored his first career touchdown on a nine-yard reception from JaMarcus Russell
JaMarcus Russell
JaMarcus Trenell Russell is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. Russell played college football for the LSU Tigers where he finished 21–4 as a starter and was named MVP of the 2007 Sugar Bowl. The Oakland Raiders selected Russell with the first overall pick of the 2007...
in a game against Appalachian State.
In 2007, during his senior season, he played in 14 games and caught three passes for 51 yards averaging 17.0) and a long reception of 27 yards.He also had a career long 27-yard reception against the Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee Volunteers
The Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Volunteers are the National Collegiate Athletic Association college sports teams at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. Mike Hamilton is the most recent Men's Athletic Director, but resigned on June 7, 2011, and Joan Cronan is the current Women's...
in the 2007 SEC Championship Game
2007 SEC Championship Game
The 2007 SEC Championship Game was played on December 1, 2007 in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. The game determined the 2007 football champion of the Southeastern Conference. The LSU Tigers, winners of the Western division of the SEC, defeated the Tennessee Volunteers, who won the Eastern...
. to help the tigers reach the 2008 BCS National Championship Game
2008 BCS National Championship Game
The 2008 Allstate BCS National Championship Game was played at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Monday, January 7, 2008, and featured the #1 and #2 college football teams in the United States as determined by the BCS Poll to decide the BCS National Championship for the 2007...
to defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes are the intercollegiate sports teams and players of The Ohio State University, named after the state tree, the Buckeye. The Buckeyes participate in the NCAA's Division I in all sports and the Big Ten Conference in most sports...
.
Atlanta Falcons
Zinger was drafted by the Atlanta FalconsAtlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
(232 overall) and signed to a four-year contract. He was released on the final cuts but was added to the practice squad and spent the entire season there.
New York Jets
Zinger was signed by the New York JetsNew 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...
on August 7, 2011. He was waived September 2.