Jabari Zuniga

Jabari Zuniga
No. 68, 91, 92
Position:Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1997-08-14) August 14, 1997 (age 27)
Marietta, Georgia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:264 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High school:Sprayberry (Marietta, Georgia)
College:Florida (2015–2019)
NFL draft:2020 / round: 3 / pick: 79
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:8
Sacks:1.0
Forced fumbles:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Jabari Zuniga (born August 14, 1997) is an American former professional football defensive end. He played college football at Florida and was drafted by the New York Jets in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft.

Early years

Zuniga grew up in Marietta, Georgia, the son of Tammy Thompson and Carlos Zuniga and attended Sprayberry High School. He originally only played basketball at Sprayberry and did not start playing football until his junior year.[1] Rated a four-star prospect by 247Sports.com, Zuniga initially committed to play college football at NC State.[2] He de-committed and eventually chose to attend the University of Florida over Arkansas.[3]

College career

Zuniga redshirted his true freshman season. He played in all 13 of the Gators' games with three starts as a redshirt freshman, recording 25 tackles, 8.5 tackles-for-loss and a team-best 5.0 sacks with 11 quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.[4] As a redshirt sophomore, Zuniga made 34 tackles, 8.0 tackles-for-loss, four sacks in ten games played (six starts). He started all 13 of Florida's games the following season and finished the year 45 tackles and finished second on the team with 11.0 tackles for loss along 6.5 sacks.[5] Zuniga was named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Lineman of the Week for Week 3 after recording 2.5 sacks against Colorado State.[6] He initially contemplated forgoing his final year of NCAA eligibility to enter the 2019 NFL draft, but ultimately decided to return to Florida for his redshirt senior season.[7]

Zuniga entered his redshirt senior season as a preseason first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection. He was named to the watchlist for the Chuck Bednarik Award midway through the season.[8] Zuniga suffered a high ankle sprain against Kentucky, causing him to miss the next two games, and then re-injured his ankle against Georgia and missed the final four games of the regular season.[9] He returned to play in the 2019 Orange Bowl and finished the season with 14 tackles, 7 tackles for a loss, and 3 sacks.[10]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 3+3⁄8 in
(1.91 m) 		264 lb
(120 kg) 		32+7⁄8 in
(0.84 m) 		10+3⁄8 in
(0.26 m)		 4.64 s 1.61 s 2.71 s 33.0 in
(0.84 m)		 10 ft 7 in
(3.23 m)		 29 reps
All values from NFL Combine[11][12]

New York Jets

Zuniga was selected by the New York Jets in the third round, 79th overall, of the 2020 NFL draft.[13] He was placed on injured reserve on September 7, 2020.[14] He was designated to return from injured reserve on October 7, and began practicing with the team again.[15] He was activated on October 28.[16]

On September 1, 2021, Zuniga was waived by the Jets and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[17][18] He was promoted to the active roster on January 5, 2022.

On August 30, 2022, Zuniga was waived by the Jets.[19]

Seattle Seahawks

On September 5, 2022, the Seattle Seahawks added Zuniga to their practice squad.[20] He was released on October 12.[21]

New Orleans Saints

On October 18, 2022, Zuniga was signed to the New Orleans Saints practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 9, 2023.[22]

Zuniga announced his retirement from professional football on July 30, 2023.[23]

References

  1. ^ Watnick, Landon (June 18, 2015). "Getting to Know: Jabari Zuniga". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  2. ^ "Jabari Zuniga Turns on the Red Light". BackingThePack.com. SB Nation. November 18, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  3. ^ English, Antonya (January 27, 2015). "Gators get commitment from 4-star DE". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  4. ^ Makrides, Alex (July 21, 2017). "Gators' Jabari Zuniga pegged an edge rusher to watch in 2017". Palm Beach Post. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  5. ^ Andreu, Robbie (August 10, 2018). "UF's defensive line has what it takes to be elite in SEC". The Gainesville Sun. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  6. ^ Alderman, Blake (September 17, 2018). "Gators Jabari Zuniga named SEC defensive lineman of the week". 247Sports.com. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  7. ^ Alderman, Blake (January 5, 2019). "Jabari Zuniga to return for senior season at Florida". 247Sports.com. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  8. ^ Goodall, Zach (October 11, 2019). "Gators pass rusher Jonathan Greenard named to Bednarik Award watch list". SI.com. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  9. ^ Andreu, Robbie (December 16, 2019). "Dan Mullen said Monday that defensive end Jabari Zuniga will return for Florida's Orange Bowl matchup with Virginia". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  10. ^ Goldkamp, Thomas (February 7, 2020). "Eight Florida players to participate at the NFL Combine". 247Sports.com. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  11. ^ "Jabari Zuniga Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  12. ^ "2020 NFL Draft Scout Jabari Zuniga College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  13. ^ "Jets select Jabari Zuniga with No. 79 pick in NFL Draft 2020". New York Post. April 24, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  14. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (September 7, 2020). "Jets Sign 4 Players, Place 5 on Injured Reserve". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  15. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (October 7, 2020). "Jets RB Le'Veon Bell, 3 Others Designated to Return to Practice". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  16. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (October 28, 2020). "Jets Activate Jabari Zuniga to Active Roster; Place DL Kyle Phillips on Injured Reserve". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  17. ^ Lange, Randy; Greenberg, Ethan (September 1, 2021). "Jets Sign 3, Place 3 on Injured Reserve". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  18. ^ Allen, Eric; Greenberg, Ethan (September 2, 2021). "Jets Sign DE Jabari Zuniga to the Practice Squad". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  19. ^ Lange, Randy; Greenberg, Ethan (August 30, 2022). "Final Cuts: Jets Move 27 Players to Trim Roster to NFL's 53-Man Limit". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  20. ^ Boyle, John (September 5, 2022). "Seahawks Sign Joshua Onujiogu and Jabari Zuniga To Practice Squad". Seahawks.com. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  21. ^ Boyle, John (October 12, 2022). "Seahawks Sign Bruce Irvin To Practice Squad, Sign Cullen Gillaspia To 53-Man Roster". Seahawks.com. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  22. ^ "Saints sign eight to reserve/future contracts". NewOrleansSaints.com. January 9, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  23. ^ Sigler, John (July 30, 2023). "25-year-old Saints defensive lineman retires from the NFL". Saints Wire. USA Today. Retrieved July 30, 2023.