Chandler Zavala

Chandler Zavala
refer to caption
Zavala in 2023
No. 62 – Carolina Panthers
Position:Guard
Personal information
Born: (1999-04-02) April 2, 1999 (age 25)
Boynton Beach, Florida, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:322 lb (146 kg)
Career information
High school:Forest Park (Woodbridge, Virginia)
College:
NFL draft:2023 / round: 4 / pick: 114
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-ACC (2022)
  • 2× First-team All-MEC (2018, 2019)
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Games played:10
Games started:7
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Chandler Zavala (born April 2, 1999) is an American professional football guard for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Fairmont State and NC State.

Early years

Zavala was born on April 2, 1999, in Boynton Beach, Florida. He later attended Forest Park High School in Woodbridge, Virginia, where he originally played basketball before a coach advised him on playing football as it provided a better chance for him to receive an athletic scholarship.[1]

College career

Zavala played college football for the Fairmont State Fighting Falcons from 2017 until deciding to transferring due to Fairmont's 2020 season being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] He eventually chose to play for the NC State Wolfpack as his mother lived near campus.[1] Zavala was named first-team All-Mountain East Conference with Fairmont in 2018 and 2019 and first-team All-Atlantic Coastal Conference with NC State in 2022.[1]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
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 3+1⁄2 in
(1.92 m) 		322 lb
(146 kg) 		32+7⁄8 in
(0.84 m) 		10+1⁄2 in
(0.27 m)		 5.23 s 1.78 s 2.88 s 4.70 s 7.58 s 32.0 in
(0.81 m)		 8 ft 7 in
(2.62 m)		 30 reps
All values from the North Carolina State Pro Day[2][3]

Zavala was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the fourth round, 114th overall, of the 2023 NFL draft.[4]

He was named the Week 1 starting right guard as a rookie, but moved to left guard the following week and started the next four games. In a Week 5 game against the Detroit Lions, Zavala suffered a neck injury in the first quarter. He was sent to a local hospital.[5] He returned to the starting lineup in Week 11 before suffering a knee injury the following week. He was placed on injured reserve on November 29, 2023.[6]

Personal life

Zavala's father, Demetrio, is a frequent contestant on the Food Network competitive cooking show Chopped.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Fawcett, Dave (January 27, 2023). "How Forest Park graduate Chandler Zavala battled injuries and the NCAA to become an NFL Draft prospect". InsideNova.com. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  2. ^ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Chandler Zavala College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  3. ^ "Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  4. ^ Stone, Augusta (April 29, 2023). "Panthers pick NC State guard Chandler Zavala in fourth round". Panthers.com. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  5. ^ Owens, Jason (October 8, 2023). "Panthers rookie Chandler Zavala hospitalized with neck injury after scary injury in Detroit". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  6. ^ Gantt, Darin (November 29, 2023). "Chandler Zavala placed on injured reserve". Panthers.com. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  7. ^ Thompson, David (June 11, 2021). "Football, food, family: NC State football's Zavala learns lessons from 'Chopped' champion dad". The Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved April 3, 2023.