Jared Zabransky
Encyclopedia
Jared Zabransky is a former professional football
player, a quarterback
in the National Football League
and the Canadian Football League
. He was signed by the Houston Texans
of the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2007
, and played two seasons for the Edmonton Eskimos
of the CFL in 2009
and 2010
. He played college football
at Boise State
and was named Offensive Player of the Game in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl
.
. He attended Hermiston High School
and was an outstanding three-sport athlete, competing in football, baseball, and basketball. Zabransky won Eastern Oregon's Male Athlete of the Year award his senior year in 2002. In addition to being on the honor roll, Zabransky showed his prowess on the gridiron by passing for 1,600 yards and 15 touchdowns as team captain.
in 2002
, his first season at Boise State. He backed-up Ryan Dinwiddie
in 2003
, in which Zabransky completed 11-of-23 passes for 180 yards and one touchdown.
Zabransky took the reins as the Broncos' starting quarterback in 2004
. It was this season that he led Boise State to an 11-1 record; the only loss was to Louisville
. He was named honorable mention All-America by Sports Illustrated
, second-team All-WAC
, and was voted the team's Most Valuable Player
.
In 2005
, he remained in charge of the Broncos' high-powered offense. While he did start all 13 games, he had what many consider an off-year. He passed for 2,562 yards and threw 18 touchdowns. But he also threw 16 interceptions and was occasionally benched in favor of backup quarterback Taylor Tharp. The season opener against the Georgia Bulldogs
in Athens
was a disaster for Zabransky, in which he threw four interceptions in the first half and fumbled. Despite having a sub-par season for a player of his ability, he was able to help take Boise State to the MPC Computers Bowl
on their home turf of Bronco Stadium
in Boise
to face Boston College. After falling behind 24-0 at the half, Boise State rallied, reducing Boston College's lead to 27-21 late in the 4th quarter. Hopes of a comeback were crushed, however, when Zabransky threw an interception in the Boston College endzone with 37 seconds remaining in the game. The Boise State Broncos finished the 2005 season with a 9-4 record.
Zabransky was named 11th best quarterback in the nation by The Sporting News
, as well as being named to the 2006 Maxwell Award
watch list. Zabransky resumed his job as starting quarterback for the 2006
season, his senior year. The season proved to be a resounding success for both Zabransky and Boise State. Zabransky led his team to a perfect 12-0 regular season record, capturing BSU's fifth consecutive WAC championship. Statistically, it was Zabransky's best season as well. He finished the regular season with 23 touchdown passes and only 7 interceptions.
in overtime in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
on January 1, 2007 by a score of 43-42. Zabransky helped his team into overtime by executing a last-minute hook and lateral for the game-tying touchdown. In overtime, Zabransky executed a Statue of Liberty on the game-winning two-point conversion on a handoff to Ian Johnson
, who took it in for two points and the win. Zabransky was named 2007 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Offensive Player of the Game.
. However, on April 30, 2007 he signed a free agent
contract with the Houston Texans
. He was issued uniform number 15. He was released on August 31, 2007; however, on September 3, 2007 Zabransky was selected to be a member of the practice squad. However, unlike most coaches who prefer to have three quarterbacks on the active roster, Head Coach Gary Kubiak
prefers having two quarterbacks and cut Zabransky on September 18, 2007.
and was waived on July 2.
of the Canadian Football League
on April 27, 2009. He won the third quarterback spot (behind Ricky Ray
and Jason Maas
) on the Eskimos roster for the '09 season, beating out NFL QB Lester Ricard
.
In 2009 Zabransky dressed for 18 games as the team's third-string quarterback. He was in for the first play of the game on Sept 20 in Saskatchewan and pitched the ball to Calvin McCarty for a five-yard gain. Zabransky dressed as the team's third quarterback for the Western Semi-Final.
In 2010 Zabransky dressed for nine games as a backup quarterback. He was 20-of-43 in pass attempts (46.5%) for 266 yards, two touchdowns and five interceptions. He ran the ball eight times for 75 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown in Game 6 vs. Toronto - his first in the CFL. He saw his first significant playing time in Game 8 vs. Saskatchewan. On October 23, 2010, in his first full-game start for the Eskimos, Zabransky completed 16 of 23 passes for 188 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions to lead Edmonton to a 39-24 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The win was the fifth in six games for Edmonton, keeping them tied with the B.C. Lions for third place and a possible playoff berth in the CFL's West Division.
On May 4, 2011 Zabransky became a free agent when he was released by the Eskimos.
In two seasons with the Esks, Zabransky started two games, both in 2010. He finished the year with 53 completions on 104 attempts for 609 yards, four touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Zabransky posted 28 carries for 209 yards and one touchdown.
in an interview that he could throw a potato 100 yards. The comment has been referenced in the video games NCAA Football 07
and NCAA Football 08
where Herbstreit will sometimes say "That reminds me of the time that kid at the Liberty Bowl
told me he could throw a potato 80 yards." Herbstreit was a color commentator at the 2004 Liberty Bowl, Zabransky's first bowl game as a starter.
On February 28, 2007 it was announced that Zabransky would grace the cover of EA
's video game NCAA Football 08
. He is the second of the game's cover athletes to date to go undrafted, after its first feature athlete, Tommie Frazier
on College Football USA 97.
and graduated on the dean’s list. He and his wife, Melissa, moved to Houston in the off-season.
Gridiron football
Gridiron football , sometimes known as North American football, is an umbrella term for related codes of football primarily played in the United States and Canada. The predominant forms of gridiron football are American football and Canadian football...
player, a quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
and the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. He was signed by the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2007
2007 Houston Texans season
The 2007 Houston Texans season began with the team trying to improve on their 6–10 record in 2006. This season marks the sixth year of existence for the Texans franchise as well as Reliant Stadium.-Offseason:...
, and played two seasons for the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
of the CFL in 2009
2009 CFL season
The 2009 CFL season was the 56th season of modern professional Canadian football. Officially, it was the 52nd season of the Canadian Football League. The Montreal Alouettes won the 97th Grey Cup on November 29 with a last second 28–27 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders...
and 2010
2010 CFL season
The 2010 CFL season is the 57th season of modern Canadian professional football. Officially, it is the 53rd season of the league. Edmonton is scheduled to host the 98th Grey Cup on November 28...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Boise State
Boise State Broncos football
This page discusses the Boise State football program. For more Boise State athletics, see Boise State Broncos.The Boise State Broncos football program represents Boise State University in college football and compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I as a member of the Mountain West...
and was named Offensive Player of the Game in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl
2007 Fiesta Bowl
The 2007 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl was a college football bowl game played as part of the 2006–2007 Bowl Championship Series of the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season...
.
Early years
Zabransky grew up in a farming family in Hermiston, OregonHermiston, Oregon
As of the census of 2010, there were 16,745 people, 4,964 households, and 3,360 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,035.4 people per square mile . There were 5,383 housing units at an average density of 832.9 per square mile...
. He attended Hermiston High School
Hermiston High School
Hermiston High School is a public high school in Hermiston, Oregon, United States. As of 2002, their campus building contains 70 classrooms, eight computer labs, three physical education spaces, a 532-seat auditorium, a library/media center, a lecture hall and a large modular building to house the...
and was an outstanding three-sport athlete, competing in football, baseball, and basketball. Zabransky won Eastern Oregon's Male Athlete of the Year award his senior year in 2002. In addition to being on the honor roll, Zabransky showed his prowess on the gridiron by passing for 1,600 yards and 15 touchdowns as team captain.
College career
Zabransky was redshirtedRedshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
in 2002
2002 Boise State Broncos football team
The 2002 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 2002 college football season. Boise State competed as a member of the Western Athletic Conference , and played their home games at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho...
, his first season at Boise State. He backed-up Ryan Dinwiddie
Ryan Dinwiddie
Ryan Dinwiddie is a professional Canadian football quarterback playing for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. Dinwiddie was a three-year starter at Boise State from 2001 to 2003, and one of the most prolific passers in college football history. In 2003, he passed for...
in 2003
2003 Boise State Broncos football team
The 2003 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 2003 college football season. Boise State competed as a member of the Western Athletic Conference , and played their home games at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho...
, in which Zabransky completed 11-of-23 passes for 180 yards and one touchdown.
Zabransky took the reins as the Broncos' starting quarterback in 2004
2004 Boise State Broncos football team
The 2004 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 2004 college football season. Boise State competed as a member of the Western Athletic Conference , and played their home games at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho...
. It was this season that he led Boise State to an 11-1 record; the only loss was to Louisville
Louisville Cardinals football
The Louisville Cardinals football team represents the University of Louisville in college football as a member of the Big East Conference. Howard Schnellenberger started the program's rise to relevancy after winning the Miami Hurricanes' first national championship...
. He was named honorable mention All-America by Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
, second-team All-WAC
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
, and was voted the team's Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
.
In 2005
2005 Boise State Broncos football team
The 2005 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football during the 2005 season...
, he remained in charge of the Broncos' high-powered offense. While he did start all 13 games, he had what many consider an off-year. He passed for 2,562 yards and threw 18 touchdowns. But he also threw 16 interceptions and was occasionally benched in favor of backup quarterback Taylor Tharp. The season opener against the Georgia Bulldogs
2005 Georgia Bulldogs football team
The 2005 Georgia Bulldogs football team completed the season with a 10-3 record. Winning 10 games for the fourth year in a row, Georgia tied its own record for consecutive 10 win seasons. The Bulldogs, with a regular season SEC record of 6-2, won the SEC East and advanced to the 2005 SEC...
in Athens
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
was a disaster for Zabransky, in which he threw four interceptions in the first half and fumbled. Despite having a sub-par season for a player of his ability, he was able to help take Boise State to the MPC Computers Bowl
MPC Computers Bowl
The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I FBS college football bowl game that has been played annually at 33,500-seat Bronco Stadium on the campus of Boise State University in Boise, Idaho, since 1997...
on their home turf of Bronco Stadium
Bronco Stadium
Bronco Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Boise, Idaho, the home field of the Boise State Broncos of the Mountain West Conference. Since 1997, it has hosted the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Bronco Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Boise, Idaho, the home field of the Boise State Broncos...
in Boise
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
to face Boston College. After falling behind 24-0 at the half, Boise State rallied, reducing Boston College's lead to 27-21 late in the 4th quarter. Hopes of a comeback were crushed, however, when Zabransky threw an interception in the Boston College endzone with 37 seconds remaining in the game. The Boise State Broncos finished the 2005 season with a 9-4 record.
Zabransky was named 11th best quarterback in the nation by The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
, as well as being named to the 2006 Maxwell Award
Maxwell Award
The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the collegiate American football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best football player in the United States. The...
watch list. Zabransky resumed his job as starting quarterback for the 2006
2006 Boise State Broncos football team
The 2006 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 2006 college football season. The Broncos won the Western Athletic Conference championship with an undefeated 12–0 regular-season record , their second unbeaten regular season in the past three years...
season, his senior year. The season proved to be a resounding success for both Zabransky and Boise State. Zabransky led his team to a perfect 12-0 regular season record, capturing BSU's fifth consecutive WAC championship. Statistically, it was Zabransky's best season as well. He finished the regular season with 23 touchdown passes and only 7 interceptions.
2007 Fiesta Bowl
The Broncos defeated the Oklahoma Sooners2006 Oklahoma Sooners football team
The 2006 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football season of 2006-2007, winning the Big 12 Conference Championship...
in overtime in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
2007 Fiesta Bowl
The 2007 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl was a college football bowl game played as part of the 2006–2007 Bowl Championship Series of the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season...
on January 1, 2007 by a score of 43-42. Zabransky helped his team into overtime by executing a last-minute hook and lateral for the game-tying touchdown. In overtime, Zabransky executed a Statue of Liberty on the game-winning two-point conversion on a handoff to Ian Johnson
Ian Johnson (American football)
-Minnesota Vikings:He ran the fastest 40 yard dash time for a running back at the 2009 NFL Combine with a 4.46. He was signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Vikings. In Week 4 of the Preseason Johnson ran for 2 touchdowns in 17 carries against the Dallas Cowboys...
, who took it in for two points and the win. Zabransky was named 2007 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Offensive Player of the Game.
Houston Texans
Zabransky was not selected in the 2007 NFL Draft2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
. However, on April 30, 2007 he signed a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
contract with the Houston Texans
2007 Houston Texans season
The 2007 Houston Texans season began with the team trying to improve on their 6–10 record in 2006. This season marks the sixth year of existence for the Texans franchise as well as Reliant Stadium.-Offseason:...
. He was issued uniform number 15. He was released on August 31, 2007; however, on September 3, 2007 Zabransky was selected to be a member of the practice squad. However, unlike most coaches who prefer to have three quarterbacks on the active roster, Head Coach Gary Kubiak
Gary Kubiak
Gary Wayne Kubiak is the head coach for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. Kubiak has participated in six Super Bowls, losing three as a player with the Denver Broncos and winning three as an assistant coach with Denver and the San Francisco 49ers.-High school:Kubiak passed for a...
prefers having two quarterbacks and cut Zabransky on September 18, 2007.
Pittsburgh Steelers
On February 5, 2008, Zabransky signed a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers2008 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 76th season in the National Football League . The season concluded with the team winning Super Bowl XLIII to become the first franchise in the NFL with six Super Bowl titles....
and was waived on July 2.
Edmonton Eskimos
Zabransky signed with the Edmonton EskimosEdmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
on April 27, 2009. He won the third quarterback spot (behind Ricky Ray
Ricky Ray
Ricky Ray is a Canadian and American football quarterback who has played in the Canadian Football League and af2, as well as spending time on a roster in the National Football League...
and Jason Maas
Jason Maas
Jason Maas is a former Canadian football quarterback. He is best known for his career in the Canadian Football League, which was largely spent with the Edmonton Eskimos...
) on the Eskimos roster for the '09 season, beating out NFL QB Lester Ricard
Lester Ricard
Lester Ray Ricard, Jr. is a professional American and Canadian football quarterback who currently plays for the New Orleans Jazz of the Stars Football League. He was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2007...
.
In 2009 Zabransky dressed for 18 games as the team's third-string quarterback. He was in for the first play of the game on Sept 20 in Saskatchewan and pitched the ball to Calvin McCarty for a five-yard gain. Zabransky dressed as the team's third quarterback for the Western Semi-Final.
In 2010 Zabransky dressed for nine games as a backup quarterback. He was 20-of-43 in pass attempts (46.5%) for 266 yards, two touchdowns and five interceptions. He ran the ball eight times for 75 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown in Game 6 vs. Toronto - his first in the CFL. He saw his first significant playing time in Game 8 vs. Saskatchewan. On October 23, 2010, in his first full-game start for the Eskimos, Zabransky completed 16 of 23 passes for 188 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions to lead Edmonton to a 39-24 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The win was the fifth in six games for Edmonton, keeping them tied with the B.C. Lions for third place and a possible playoff berth in the CFL's West Division.
On May 4, 2011 Zabransky became a free agent when he was released by the Eskimos.
In two seasons with the Esks, Zabransky started two games, both in 2010. He finished the year with 53 completions on 104 attempts for 609 yards, four touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Zabransky posted 28 carries for 209 yards and one touchdown.
In the media
Zabransky told ESPN’s Kirk HerbstreitKirk Herbstreit
Kirk Herbstreit is an Emmy Award-winning analyst for ESPN's College GameDay, a television program covering college football and a provider of color commentary during college football games on ESPN and ABC. He appears annually as a commentator in EA Sports' NCAA Football. He was a quarterback on...
in an interview that he could throw a potato 100 yards. The comment has been referenced in the video games NCAA Football 07
NCAA Football 07
NCAA Football 07 is a collegiate football video game published by Electronic Arts. The product features former USC player Reggie Bush on the cover...
and NCAA Football 08
NCAA Football 08
NCAA Football 08 is a college football video game created by EA Sports, the sports video gaming subsidiary of Electronic Arts. It was officially announced with the launch of the NCAA 08 page on the EA Sports website on February 20, 2007...
where Herbstreit will sometimes say "That reminds me of the time that kid at the Liberty Bowl
Liberty Bowl
The Liberty Bowl is an annual U.S. American college football bowl game played in December of each year from 1959 to 2007 and in January in 2009 and 2010. The Liberty Bowl was sponsored by AXA Financial and was known as the AXA Liberty Bowl from 1997 to 2003...
told me he could throw a potato 80 yards." Herbstreit was a color commentator at the 2004 Liberty Bowl, Zabransky's first bowl game as a starter.
On February 28, 2007 it was announced that Zabransky would grace the cover of EA
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
's video game NCAA Football 08
NCAA Football 08
NCAA Football 08 is a college football video game created by EA Sports, the sports video gaming subsidiary of Electronic Arts. It was officially announced with the launch of the NCAA 08 page on the EA Sports website on February 20, 2007...
. He is the second of the game's cover athletes to date to go undrafted, after its first feature athlete, Tommie Frazier
Tommie Frazier
Tommie James Frazier, Jr. is a former American football player and coach in the United States. He played quarterback for the Nebraska Cornhuskers....
on College Football USA 97.
Personal life
Zabransky majored in communications at Boise StateBoise State University
Boise State University is a public university located in Boise, Idaho. Originally founded in 1932 as a junior college by the Episcopal Church, the university became an independent institution in 1934, and has been awarding baccalaureate and master degrees since 1965...
and graduated on the dean’s list. He and his wife, Melissa, moved to Houston in the off-season.