Jeremy Zuttah
Encyclopedia
Jeremy Kwasi Zuttah is an American football
offensive lineman for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Buccaneers in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Rutgers
.
for three years at J. P. Stevens High School, becoming a highly-touted prospect and turning down several college football
powers for Rutgers. Zuttah's career followed in the footsteps of his older brother Jeff, who committed to the University of Michigan
in 2003, but never played a down after team doctors became concerned about his sickle-cell anemia. Jeff later transferred to Stanford University
.
, forming a top combination that helped paved the way for Ray Rice
during his freshman season. In 2006, Rutgers switched to a zone blocking
scheme, and Zuttah subsequently moved to right tackle, in order to better utilize his athleticism in the scheme. Emerging as a vocal team leader, Zuttah earned all-Big East honors as the Rutgers offensive line only surrendered 8 sacks
all season, the fewest in all of Division I-A, also ranking fifteenth in the nation in rushing.
In 2007, Zuttah was named to the preseason watch lists for the Outland Trophy
and the Rotary Lombardi Award
. He has been named a pre-season All-America
by Athlon Sports. He is considered a prospect for the 2008 NFL Draft
, potentially having to move inside to guard or center. Zuttah was named to the 2007 Big East All-Academic and All-Conference teams. An excellent student, Zuttah graduated Rutgers with an economics degree in 3.5 years.
in the third round (83rd overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft
. He signed a multi-year contract with the team on July 22.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
offensive lineman for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
of 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...
. He was drafted by the Buccaneers in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. 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 Rutgers
Rutgers Scarlet Knights football
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represents Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision play...
.
Early years
Zuttah startedStarting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
for three years at J. P. Stevens High School, becoming a highly-touted prospect and turning down several 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...
powers for Rutgers. Zuttah's career followed in the footsteps of his older brother Jeff, who committed to the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 2003, but never played a down after team doctors became concerned about his sickle-cell anemia. Jeff later transferred to Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
.
College career
As a true freshman in 2004, Zuttah was a reserve player, appearing in nine games, with five starts at both tackle spots and left guard. In 2005, Zuttah started at left guard next to Pedro SosaPedro Sosa
Pedro Sosa is an American football offensive tackle for the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
, forming a top combination that helped paved the way for Ray Rice
Ray Rice
Raymell Maurice Rice is an American football running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Ravens in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Rutgers. He is currently ranked as the Baltimore Ravens third all-time rusher in...
during his freshman season. In 2006, Rutgers switched to a zone blocking
Zone blocking
Zone blocking is a technique in American football that is a simple and effective scheme for creating lanes for running plays.In a zone blocking scheme, fleet-footedness and athletic ability trump size as desirable qualities in offensive linemen...
scheme, and Zuttah subsequently moved to right tackle, in order to better utilize his athleticism in the scheme. Emerging as a vocal team leader, Zuttah earned all-Big East honors as the Rutgers offensive line only surrendered 8 sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
all season, the fewest in all of Division I-A, also ranking fifteenth in the nation in rushing.
In 2007, Zuttah was named to the preseason watch lists for the Outland Trophy
Outland Trophy
The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best United States college football interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America. It is named after John H. Outland. One of only a few players ever to be named All-America at two positions, Outland garnered consensus All-America honors in...
and the Rotary Lombardi Award
Lombardi Award
The Rotary Lombardi Award is awarded annually to the best college football lineman or linebacker. The Lombardi Award program was approved by the Rotary Club in Houston in 1970 shortly after the death of Vince Lombardi. The committee outlined the criteria for eligibility for the award, which...
. He has been named a pre-season All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
by Athlon Sports. He is considered a prospect for the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
, potentially having to move inside to guard or center. Zuttah was named to the 2007 Big East All-Academic and All-Conference teams. An excellent student, Zuttah graduated Rutgers with an economics degree in 3.5 years.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Zuttah was drafted by the Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
in the third round (83rd overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. He signed a multi-year contract with the team on July 22.