No. 51 – Los Angeles Rams | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position: | Linebacker | ||||
Personal information | |||||
Born: | Zeeland, Michigan, U.S. | February 17, 1998||||
Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||
Weight: | 263 lb (119 kg) | ||||
Career information | |||||
High school: | Zeeland West (MI) | ||||
College: | Hillsdale Iowa | ||||
Undrafted: | 2022 | ||||
Career history | |||||
| |||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||
Roster status: | Active | ||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||
| |||||
Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||
| |||||
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Zach VanValkenburg (born February 17, 1998) is an American football linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Hillsdale before transferring to Iowa and was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2022.
VanValkenburg was born on February 17, 1998, in Zeeland, Michigan. He attended Zeeland West High School, and was a three-year player at linebacker and defensive end. As a junior, he earned all-conference honors. As a senior, VanValkenburg was team captain and made 85 tackles, earning first-team all-state, all-conference, and Holland Sentinel Defensive Player of the Year honors, as well as being named to the Detroit Free Press Dream Team. In addition to playing football, VanValkenburg was also a four-year letterman in wrestling, earning all-state honors, and played four seasons on the track team. [1]
VanValkenburg declined offers from Holy Cross and Air Force to commit to Hillsdale College. [2] After suffering an injury early into his true freshman season, 2016, he decided to redshirt. [3] As a second-year freshman in the 2017 season, VanValkenburg compiled a total of 32 tackles to go along with 4.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and a blocked kick. He earned Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Defensive Lineman of the Year honors in 2018, after posting 70 total tackles, including 14.5 for-loss, and 8.5 sacks along with three fumbles forced. [1] [4]
After receiving a degree in history following the 2018 season, VanValkenburg decided to transfer as a college graduate to Iowa for his final two years of football eligibility. [3] [5] [6] He had previously "emailed every coach in the country" looking for places to transfer, but Iowa was one of only two schools to reply. [3] He was not given a scholarship, and had to make the team as a walk-on. [3] He spent the 2019 season as a backup to A. J. Epenesa and Chauncey Golston, both of whom went on to play in the National Football League (NFL). [3] In the season, VanValkenburg recorded six tackles and appeared in a total of 11 games. [1]
VanValkenburg was named as a backup to John Waggoner to start the 2020 season, but became a starter in the first week after an injury to the latter. [3] He ended up starting all eight games in a season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, and made a total of 30 tackles, 8.5 for-loss, and 3.5 sacks. He also recorded four fumble recoveries, tying for first place nationally, and made one forced fumble. He was named at the end of the season a second-team All-Big Ten Conference selection by the coaches of the league and a fourth-team choice by Phil Steele. [1]
Although 2020 was supposed to be VanValkenburg's final season of collegiate football, he was given an extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19 and opted to return to the team in 2021. He started all 14 games that year and recorded 58 total tackles along with 5.5 sacks and 15 tackles-for-loss. [7] He was given the Hayden Fry Award for defensive most valuable player and was named second-team all-conference by the league's coaches and Associated Press (AP). [8] Phil Steele named him a third-team selection, and VanValkenburg additionally was a quarterfinalist for the Lott Trophy. [1]
VanValkenburg finished his six-year college career with a total of 60 games played (48 as a starter), and 211 tackles, 42.5 for-loss, 22 sacks, and five forced fumbles. [1] He graduated with a master's degree in Eastern European Studies. [3]
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 4+1⁄2 in (1.94 m) | 263 lb (119 kg) | 31+3⁄8 in (0.80 m) | 10+1⁄8 in (0.26 m) | 4.97 s | 1.74 s | 2.78 s | 4.41 s | 7.03 s | 31.5 in (0.80 m) | 9 ft 5 in (2.87 m) | 22 reps | |
All values from Iowa's Pro Day [9] |
After going unselected in the 2022 NFL Draft, VanValkenburg was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent. [10] [11] He was waived at the final roster cuts, on August 30, and was subsequently signed to the practice squad. [12] [13] He was released from the practice squad on September 6. [14]
On September 20, 2022, VanValkenburg was signed to the practice squad of the Los Angeles Rams. [15] He signed a reserve/futures contract on January 9, 2023. [16] He made the final roster in 2023 and made his NFL debut in week one against the Seattle Seahawks. [17] [18] He was waived on November 14, 2023, and re-signed to the practice squad. [19] [20] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 15, 2024. [21]
Bruce Pernell Irvin Jr. is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round with the 15th overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft. Irvin won Super Bowl XLVIII over the Denver Broncos, and also played in Super Bowl XLIX where he became the first player ever to be ejected from a Super Bowl. He played college football at West Virginia.
Michael Wayne Daniels Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL draft.
Kerry Hyder Jr. is an American football defensive end who is a free agent. He played college football for Texas Tech.
Ethan Colbey Westbrooks is an American football defensive end for the Houston Roughnecks of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at West Texas A&M University and signed with the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2014.
Jihad Ward is an American football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Illinois.
Jaleel Johnson is an American football defensive end for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Iowa. Johnson was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round, 109th overall of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Alejandro Barrett is an American football defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at San Diego State.
Breeland Clyde Speaks is an American football defensive end for the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL). He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He played college football at Ole Miss.
Ben Niemann is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He has played in the NFL for the Kansas City Chiefs and Arizona Cardinals. He played college football at Iowa.
Justin Hollins is an American football linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon, and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Los Angeles Rams.
Dakota Devon Allen is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at Texas Tech and East Mississippi Community College.
Michael Ojemudia is an American football cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Iowa.
Geno Stone is an American football safety for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Iowa, and was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Stone also played for the Houston Texans in 2020.
Matt Nelson is an American football offensive tackle for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Iowa, and has previously played in the NFL for the Detroit Lions.
Daviyon Nixon is an American football nose tackle for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Iowa Western and Iowa before he was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Elerson G. Smith is an American football linebacker for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Northern Iowa and was drafted by the Giants in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Michael Hoecht is a Canadian professional American football outside linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Brown.
Keir S. Thomas is an American football linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at South Carolina and Florida State.
T. J. Carter is an American football strong safety who is a free agent. He played college football at Memphis and TCU and was signed by the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2022.
Brayden Thomas is a professional American football linebacker for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the University of Mary, Minnesota State, and North Dakota State.