A fifth round selection by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2021 NFL draft ... A 2021 team captain ... A leader of the Fordham offensive line ... Earned All-Patriot League honors for four years ... One of just 24 players in League history to earn All-League honors all four years ... 2020-21 First Team All-Patriot League selection ... 2019 Lansing Trophy recipient ... A four-year starter on the offensive line ... Made an immediate impact as a freshman on the Fordham offensive line in 2017 … Started eight games, mostly at right tackle … 2020-2021 and 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District® selection ... Named Academic All-Patriot League for past four years ... A First Team All-League performer at Brecksville-Broadview High School in 2016 ... Named to the 2018, 2019, 2020-21, and 2021 Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
2021 (Senior Season)
• Named Phil Steele First Team All-America.
• Named First Team Athlon Sports FCS All-America.
• Named First Team STATS Perform FCS All-America.
• Started every game at left tackle for the Rams in 2021.
• 2019, 2020-2021, and 2021 First Team All-Patriot League.
• Helped Rams lead the Patriot League and ranked eleventh in the NCAA FCS in passing offense (296.7 yards/game) and lead the League and rank 12th in the NCAA FCS in total offense (447.5 yards/game).
• Helped Rams ranked second in the PL and 18th in the NCAA FCS in scoring offense (33.6 points/game).
• Helped Rams lead the PL and rank 22nd in the NCAA in fewest sacks allowed (1.36/game) and lead the League and rank ninth in the NCAA in TFLs allowed/game (3.91/game).
2020-21 (Senior Season)
• Started all three games at left tackle.
• Named First Team All-Patriot League.
• Also named Academic All-Patriot League and CoSIDA Academic All-District.
• Helped the Fordham offense lead the Patriot League and rank 17th in the NCAA FCS in scoring, averaging 31.7 points/game.
• Fordham offense also led the League and was 14th in the NCAA FCS in total offense (433.3 yards/game).
• Rams offense led the Patriot League and was sixth in the NCAA FCS in passing offense (349.7 yards/game).
2019 (Junior Season)
• A 2019 First Team All-Patriot League selection.
• Also a Phil Steele First Team All-Patriot League pick.
• Named 2019 CoSIDA Academic All-District and Academic All-Patriot League.
• Recipient of the Lansing Trophy as Fordham's top lineman.
• Started all 12 games at left tackle for the Rams in 2019.
• Blocked for the top-ranked offense in the Patriot League (357.2 yards/game).
• Fordham offense also led the League in scoring (25.0) and red zone offense.
2018 (Sophomore Season)
• Started all eleven games at left tackle as a sophomore.
• Named Second Team All-Patriot League.
• Blocked for an offense that led the Patriot League in passing offense, averaging 200.7 passing yards/game.
2017 (Freshman Season)
• Appeared in nine games on the offensive line as a rookie, starting eight (seven at right tackle and one at left tackle).
• Blocked for an offense that averaged 371.7 yards of total offense/game, third best in the Patriot League, including 238.9 passing yards/game, also third best in the league and 31st among all NCAA FCS teams.
Before Fordham
• A graduate of
Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School in
Broadview Heights, Ohio, where he lettered in football for head coach Jason Black.
• 2016 First Team All-Suburban League.
• 2016 Cleveland.com All-Star.
• Led team to a school-record 425 points in 2016.
• Recorded 270 total tackles during his high school career.
• Served as a team captain.
• Member of the National Honor Society.
Personal
• Son of Lois and Stan Zakelj.
• Has an older brother (Matt) and an older sister (Audrey).
• A Finance major.
