DT Anthony Zettel Articles

Scouting Reports:

PSU Profile Page:  http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/anthony_zettel_770223.html

NFL:  http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/profiles/anthony-zettel?id=2555268

CBS:  http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1889927/anthony-zettel

PFF:  https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/04/04/draft-pff-scouting-report-anthony-zettel-dt-penn-state/

NFP:  http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/breaking-down-de-dadi-nicolas-and-dt-anthony-zettel/

Draft Insider:  http://www.draftinsider.net/reports/2016/DE/Anthony-Zettel

Articles:

Best prospects still available after third round of 2016 NFL draft Zettel is ranked as the 4th best DT.) (4-30-16):  http://www.si.com/nfl/2016/04/30/nfl-draft-best-available-prospects-connor-cook-andrew-billings

Top 50 available prospects for Day 3 of 2016 NFL draft (44. Anthony Zettel, Defensive Interior, Penn State (Big Board Rank: 114, Position Rank: 20):  While he struggles with power at the point of attack, Zettel can get after the quarterback, as evidenced by his +24.5 pass rush grade than ranked fourth in the nation in 2014.) (4-29-16):   https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/04/29/draft-top-50-available-prospects-for-day-3-of-2016-nfl-draft/

Walterfootball Defensive Tackle Rankings (24. Anthony Zettel, DT/DE, Penn State -Height: 6-4. Weight: 284. Arm: 31.13.  40 Time: 4.81.  Projected Round (2016): 4-6.  4/27/16: Zettel was solid for Penn State with a lot of power at the point of attack. He totaled 47 tackles with 11 for a loss, four sacks, six passes batted and a forced fumble during 2015. Zettel put more pressure on the quarterback than his sack total indicates. He had a quality week at the East-West Shrine, but is top heavy. Zettel needs to build up his lower body to have a strong base for the NFL. He was faster than expected at the combine.  8/22/15: Zettel is undersized for defensive tackle, but he is a quick interior rusher. For the NFL, he will have to move to 4-3 defensive end and could move inside for passing situations. Zettel has the frame to warrant consideration as a five-technique in a 3-4 defense.  Zettel's 2014 season showed that he has interior pass-rushing skills as he racked up eight sacks. He also had 42 tackles with 17 tackles for a loss. Zettel had four sacks per year as a sophomore and a freshman.) (4-27-16):  http://walterfootball.com/draft2016DT.php



Penn State's Zettel worked out on DL, at LB and TE (3-17-16):  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000645478/article/penn-states-zettel-worked-out-on-dl-at-lb-and-te

Defensive linemen headline Penn State’s 2016 draft class (Anthony Zettel, DT, +28.3:  Zettel makes an interesting projection because of his regression in 2015. He finished 2014 as our fifth overall defensive tackle, with a +43.8 grade. Zettel’s sack count fell from ten to just two, even if he added three hits and a further 27 hurries. He clearly has the talent but such a drop-off in performance will have alarm bells ringing with NFL franchises. Unlike his teammate, Zettel performed well in the athletic tests at the combine, which matches up with his quickness in the pass rushing department.  On the other hand, his stature results in some deficiencies against the run. Zettel weighed in at just 277 pounds with arms of just over 31 inches. The lack of length and power shows up frequently against double teams where Zettel either ends up going backwards or on his back. He was also single blocked with alarming regularity for an interior defensive lineman. Even when he was able to beat his blocker, Zettel failed to finish either overpersuing or missing the tackle. Zettel will likely be a pass rusher only until he can get in an NFL weight room.) (3-3-16):  https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/03/03/draft-defensive-linemen-headline-penn-states-2016-draft-class/

NFL Combine 2016: Penn State's Anthony Zettel meets the media in Indy (2-26-16):  http://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/index.ssf/2016/02/nfl_combine_2016_penn_states_a.html

NFL combine guide: Connor Cook, Willie Henry and other local college players to watch (DT Anthony Zettel: The 6-4, 278-pounder from West Branch, Mich., known for tackling a tree, played more on the interior of the D-line for Penn State in 2015 and his production suffered a bit. He had 47 tackles (11 for loss), four sacks and six pass breakups and was third-team All-Big Ten. In 2014, Zettel played outside more and had 17 TFL, eight sacks and three interceptions en route to first-team all-Big Ten honors.) (2-23-16):   http://www.mlive.com/sports/2016/02/nfl_combine_guide.html

NFL Combine: 5 Names To Watch (Anthony Zettel, DT, Penn State: All-American Carl Nassib overshadowed Zettel on the Nittany Lions' defensive line in 2015, but Zettel still managed 11 tackles for loss and showcased his athleticism and versatility. At 6-foot-4 and 284 pounds, he could play a number of positions at the next level, but his strength and agility will jump off the field for scouts. The fifth-year senior was a shot-putter in high school, is an avid golfer with great coordination and set school records in the hang clean and power clean. He also does MMA training in the offseason and garnered plenty of attention when he … wait for it … tackled a tree.) (2-12-16):   http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/164286282/nfl-scouting-combine-draft-players-to-watch

2016 East-West Shrine Game East Practice Report (One player who drew some "oohs" from the scouts with impressive rushes around the corner was Penn State defensive lineman Anthony Zettel. He victimized Rutgers tackle Keith Lumpkin on two reps. Lumpkin (6-8, 325) looks slow-footed and late getting out of his stance. Zettel has had a good week at the East-West Shrine. He has very good hands to get free of blockers. He just needs some more lower body strength. That could be seen on one stunt where Zettel got knocked down by Lumpkin, but he did execute the stunt well to free up his teammate for a sack. Zettel looks like a solid mid-rounder.) (1-21-16):   http://walterfootball.com/eastwest2016practice5.php

East Practice Notes (Penn State’s Anthony Zettel came with a lot more fanfare, but I was disappointed for the most part as he looked eminently blockable throughout the first day, with the exception of one snap.) (1-20-16):   http://optimumscouting.com/draft/2016-shrine-game-east-practice-notes-from-day-1-and-2.html

2016 Shrine Game: Defensive Preview (Penn State defensive lineman Anthony Zettel (6-4, 282) was often overshadowed this season by his defensive line teammates Austin Johnson and Carl Nassib, who will both participate in the Senior Bowl. But Zettel is still a very appealing prospect in the right scheme. He makes a living by beating blockers to gaps due to his first step quickness and snap anticipation, using a variety of hand moves and an unrelenting motor. Zettel tends to play overaggressive and scouts want to see him better stack-and-shed at the point of attack.) (1-18-16):  http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/25453372/shrine-game-defensive-preview

East Roster Preview (3. Anthony Zettel, Penn State: The unquestioned leader of the Penn State team and a uniquely impressive athlete, Zettel had a letdown senior season, finishing as arguably the third best prospect on his defensive line. Explosiveness off the snap wasn’t an issue, but he struggled to disrupt pockets with upfield push, and was too often neutralized in run support despite plus-team support. He’ll need a strong Shrine Game showing to get back in the good graces of teams. I was told earlier in the year that he’s closer to an undrafted prospect than a second-rounder, but I’ll still hold out hope Zettel can earn an NFL starting opportunity in time.) (1-18-16):   http://optimumscouting.com/uncategorized/2016-shrine-game-preview-east-roster-led-by-three-of-the-nfl-drafts-top-small-schoolers.html

10 Players to Watch At Shrine Game Practices (Anthony Zettel, DL, Penn State: The 6’4”, 284-pound Zettel is a good case study of a player who was more highly regarded entering the season than at the end…even though he played pretty darn well in 2015. He didn’t make as many splash plays as he had earlier in his career, but that was a result of the unforeseen explosion of Carl Nassib and the emergence of Austin Johnson inside. Part of the battle for Zettel is to zero in on one specific NFL role. At his size, he’s not going to play tackle regularly in the NFL. Can he show enough quickness to prove he can play 4-3 strongside end? Does he have enough power and sand in the pants to play 5T or shaded 4 in an odd front? What are his actual measurements, as I’ve heard from one person he is now in the 270s while another source places him at 6’3” and 292 instead of his above listed dimensions? On paper from the summer, Zettel looks like the top defensive lineman on either roster. He can revitalize his draft stock with a strong week, perhaps playing his way into joining Nassib at the Senior Bowl the following week.) (1-17-16):   http://football.realgm.com/analysis/2754/10-Players-to-Watch-At-Shrine-Game-Practices

5 prospects that helped their NFL draft stock during bowl season (Anthony Zettel, PSU DT: After finishing the 2014 season as our fifth-ranked defensive tackle, this is the player we thought we’d see all year. Yet heading into the bowl game Zettel was our 52nd-ranked DT with games against Ohio State and Michigan State where he disappeared completely. With questions about how he’d fare against top-level competition, Zettel dominated a talented Georgia offensive line. He collected a sack plus three additional hurries and made two stops in the run game earning his highest grade of the season (+8.7). There are still question marks lingering about why he was only able to notch two total stops against the three best offensive lines he played during the season, but his performance will help to ease some of those.) (1-6-16):  https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/01/06/college-5-prospects-that-helped-their-nfl-draft-stock-during-bowl-season/

What's next for Penn State tackle Anthony Zettel? A trip to the West Coast, and an all-star game, are in his plans (1-6-16):  http://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/index.ssf/2016/01/whats_next_for_penn_state_tack.html

Penn State star Anthony Zettel, who lost his father Friday, puts it all on the line for the Lions against the Aztecs (9-26-16):  http://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/index.ssf/2015/09/penn_state_star_anthony_zettel.html

Rob Rang's Big Board (32. Anthony Zettel, DT, Penn State, 6-4, 278, 4.84, Redshirt Sr.: A quick-twitch penetrator in a class filled with powerful run-stuffers, Zettel stands apart from other defensive tackles and not just because of his eye-popping production, which included 42 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, eight sacks, eight passes broken up and three interceptions. The former defensive end wins with quickness off the snap as well as active hands, a relentless motor and a knack for finding the ball.) (9-13-15):  http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/25296304/big-board-both-vernon-hargreaves-iii-jalen-ramsey-top-10-dbs

Ohio State's Joey Bosa, Ezekiel Elliott headline Big Ten's top NFL prospects (9. Anthony Zettel, DT, Penn State, RSr. (6-4, 278, 4.87):  Lining up at several positions on the defensive line for Penn State, Zettel is a disruptive penetrator with a versatile skill-set to win with power and quickness off the snap. He uses a variety of moves to beat his man with aggressive hands, quick feet and a deadly spin move to blow up the A-gap, but he tends to play too hard at times and overruns angles. Although he doesn't have prototypical size for an interior defensive line prospect, Zettel's skill-set projects to both even and odd fronts in the NFL and if he matches or exceeds his 2014 performance, the first round will be calling his name.) (8-25-15):  http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/25280056/buckeyes-bosa-and-elliott-headline-the-big-tens-top-nfl-prospects
 
2016 NFL Draft: Penn State Preview (Anthony Zettel, DT, Redshirt Senior (6-4, 278, 4.87): Lining up at several positions on the defensive line for Penn State, Zettel is a disruptive penetrator with a versatile skill-set to win with power and/or quickness off the snap. A defensive end when he arrived in Happy Valley, he added 25 pounds of muscle and moved inside for his junior season, giving the Nittany Lions and interior rush presence. No player in the Big Ten had as many tackles for loss as Joey Bosa (21.5) last year, but Zettel was the closest with 17 stops behind the line of scrimmage in 2014, adding 42 tackles, 8.0 sacks, three interceptions and eight passes defended. He has an explosive first step with consistent snap anticipation to attack blockers before they have a chance to react. Zettel uses a variety of moves to beat his man with aggressive hands, lateral agility and a deadly spin move to blow up the A-gap with a competitive motor that is always revving. He does play too hard at times and overruns angles or ends up on the ground because of his overaggressive nature and he has room to better control his momentum to finish in tight spaces. Although he doesn't have prototypical size for an interior defensive line prospect, Zettel's skill-set projects to both even and odd fronts in the NFL and if he matches or exceeds his 2014 performance, the first round will be calling his name.) (7-15-16):  http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/25241936/nfl-draft-penn-state-preview