Michigan football OL Zak Zinter picked by Cleveland Browns in Round 3 of NFL draft 2024
If ever there were an interior lineman more beloved by the Michigan football fanbase more than Zak Zinter, it's not clear who that would be.
Though his time in Ann Arbor is up, a host of the fan base may follow the former standout with support in Cleveland, after he was drafted Friday No. 85 overall by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft.
He was the third consecutive Wolverine drafted in the third round, following running back Blake Corum at No. 84 overall to the Rams and wide receiver Roman Wilson at 85 to the Steelers.
Zinter, a staple on Michigan football's offensive line as a four-year starter, played in 45 games (42 starts) almost exclusively at right guard. The 6-foot-6, 322-pound product was an anchor on both the 2021 and 2022 lines which were named the Joe Moore Award winners as the best in the nation and then opted to come back as a senior in 2023 after consecutive seasons came up short with College Football Playoff semifinal losses.
Voted a captain, Zinter was a mid-season All-American by nearly every publication and rising up draft boards until the unthinkable happened. In the middle of the third quarter in U-M's rivalry game against Ohio State, an OSU defensive lineman fell on his leg and snapped both his tibia and fibula.
“I’ve been saying, best, worst case scenario," Zinter said last month at the NFL Combine. “Just broke the (tibia) and (fibula), no ligaments in the ankle or the knee, so recovery is going quicker and better than I thought. I’m moving around well and pretty much cleared for everything. Just building the strength in the leg back up.”
He had to be carted off the field, his season was done, however on the next play, star running back Blake Corum ripped off a 22-yard touchdown rush and immediately looked directly into the camera and flashed his hands into a six and a five, in honor of Zinter's jersey number.
It sparked the Wolverines to an eventual 30-24 victory over the Buckeyes, momentum Michigan would later ride to a Big Ten Championship victory over Iowa, then eventually a Rose Bowl win over Alabama and national championship title over Washington.
Zinter was on crutches patrolling the sidelines for those final three games, however his 12 starts were still more than enough for him to become a NFF William V. Campbell Trophy Finalist and semifinalist for the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy while being named a consensus All American.
"I’m going to be ready to roll in a month," Zinter said in early March. "I’ll be football ready. So, it’s not a huge concern with a lot of teams just seeing me move around really well.”
Zinter was asked about what a team would get if they drafted him and why they shouldn't be concerned about any lingering affects of the injury. Zinter, who's long been humble, didn't pause a beat before he maid it perfectly clear, he doesn't have any concerns about how he will translate to the NFL.
“I think my tape shows it for itself,” he said. “I mean, started as a freshman here, I’ve had four great years of football and didn’t go my way towards the end of the season, but I mean, just my knowledge of the game, personality, good guy.
"I know a lot about football, too, so getting in there, watching film with them, being able to show them that I’m a smart guy as well.”
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan OL Zak Zinter picked by Browns in Round 3 of NFL draft
