Zach Wiegert
Encyclopedia
Zach Wiegert was an American football
offensive tackle. He started 37 consecutive games at right tackle for the Cornhuskers, helping the University of Nebraska to a national championship as a senior.
, awarded to the nation’s top interior lineman, First-team All-America
and First-team All-Big Eight Conference
selection as a senior. Wiegert led NU to its 11th NCAA rushing title (The Huskers averaged 340 yards per game on the ground) and first national title since 1971. In addition to winning the Outland, he was a finalist for the Lombardi Award
, a consensus All-American
, the UPI Lineman of the Year
and the Touchdown Club of Columbus
Offensive Lineman of the Year.
In his 46-game career, Wiegert, a three-year starter at right tackle, gave up just one sack en route to earning All-Big Eight honors in 1992, 1993, and 1994, and earned Second-team All-America honors in 1993, helping Nebraska to an undefeated regular season and an Orange Bowl appearance. His No. 72 jersey was retired before the 1995 season.
in the second round (38th selection overall) by the St. Louis Rams
. He played with the Rams for four seasons from 1995 to 1998. As a rookie in 1995 he played in five games and started two. He was inactive for first seven games with a left ankle injury suffered in final preseason game. In 1996 he started 16 games at right tackle
after lining up at left guard throughout training camp. The next year, under new coach Dick Vermiel, Wiegert moved to right guard and started 15 games. He caught one-yard pass to give Rams a first down on game-winning drive that resulted
in Jeff Wilkins
’ 25-yard FG with four seconds remaining at Washington (11/30/1997). He also scored first-career TD after recovering Jerald Moore’s fumble in the end zone at Carolina (12/20/1997). He was granted free agency on February 13, 1998, and re-signed with Rams on June 17, 1998. In 1998 he started 13 games at right guard for St. Louis. He missed three games with a knee injury. He was designated by Rams as transition player on February 12, 1999, and was re-signed by the Rams on March 24, 1999. He was released by Rams on April 28, 1999, after had become expendable since Rams had signed Adam Timmerman
to play right guard.
from 1999 to 2002. He signed as a free agent May 5, 1999, with the Jaguars in 1999. That season he played in 16 games with 12 starts at right guard for 14-2 Jaguars. In 2000 he started eight games at right tackle before suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in left knee. He had allowed only four sacks in eight games. He was placed on injured reserve on October 14, 2000. In 2001 he came back from injury to start all 16 games at right guard, the first time he had been able to do so since 1996. Wiegert played and started in seven games in 2002 before being placed on injured reserve on 11/6/2002. He made his first NFL start at left tackle versus Indianapolis and started four more games at left tackle before starting two games at right tackle. He was granted unconditional free agency on February
28, 2003.
. He signed by Texans on March 1, 2003. In 2003 he played in 15 games, starting 14 at right guard. In 2005 he started 12 games (five at right guard, seven at right tackle). The following season, 2006, he played in and started nine games at right tackle. On February 28, 2007, the Texans released Wiegert.
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 tackle. He started 37 consecutive games at right tackle for the Cornhuskers, helping the University of Nebraska to a national championship as a senior.
College career
He was the winner of the 1994 Outland TrophyOutland 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...
, awarded to the nation’s top interior lineman, First-team 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...
and First-team All-Big Eight Conference
Big Eight Conference
The Big Eight Conference, a former NCAA-affiliated Division I-A college athletic association that sponsored football, was formed in January 1907 as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association by its charter member schools: the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University...
selection as a senior. Wiegert led NU to its 11th NCAA rushing title (The Huskers averaged 340 yards per game on the ground) and first national title since 1971. In addition to winning the Outland, he was a finalist for the 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...
, a consensus All-American
1994 College Football All-America Team
The 1994 College Football All-America Team is composed of the following All-American Teams: Associated Press, United Press International, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, Scripps-Howard, The Sporting News and Football News.The...
, the UPI Lineman of the Year
UPI Lineman of the Year (College)
The United Press International college football lineman of the year award was among the first and most recognized college football awards. With the demise of UPI in 1997 the award was discontinued. Offensive and defensive linemen were eligible, including offensive ends, with one, Howard Twilley,...
and the Touchdown Club of Columbus
Touchdown Club of Columbus
The Touchdown Club of Columbus was founded in Columbus, Ohio, in 1956 by Sam B. Nicola at the request of State Auditor James A. Rhodes, who later became governor of the state. Nicola served as the club's president until his death in 1993. More than a decade later, his son Sam Nicola, Jr...
Offensive Lineman of the Year.
In his 46-game career, Wiegert, a three-year starter at right tackle, gave up just one sack en route to earning All-Big Eight honors in 1992, 1993, and 1994, and earned Second-team All-America honors in 1993, helping Nebraska to an undefeated regular season and an Orange Bowl appearance. His No. 72 jersey was retired before the 1995 season.
St. Louis Rams
Wiegert was drafted in the 1995 NFL Draft1995 NFL Draft
The 1995 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 22–23, 1995 at the Paramount Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City...
in the second round (38th selection overall) by the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
. He played with the Rams for four seasons from 1995 to 1998. As a rookie in 1995 he played in five games and started two. He was inactive for first seven games with a left ankle injury suffered in final preseason game. In 1996 he started 16 games at right tackle
after lining up at left guard throughout training camp. The next year, under new coach Dick Vermiel, Wiegert moved to right guard and started 15 games. He caught one-yard pass to give Rams a first down on game-winning drive that resulted
in Jeff Wilkins
Jeff Wilkins
For the American basketball player, see Jeff Wilkins .Jeffrey Allen Wilkins nicknamed "Money" is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League for the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles and St Louis Rams. He played college football at Youngstown State University...
’ 25-yard FG with four seconds remaining at Washington (11/30/1997). He also scored first-career TD after recovering Jerald Moore’s fumble in the end zone at Carolina (12/20/1997). He was granted free agency on February 13, 1998, and re-signed with Rams on June 17, 1998. In 1998 he started 13 games at right guard for St. Louis. He missed three games with a knee injury. He was designated by Rams as transition player on February 12, 1999, and was re-signed by the Rams on March 24, 1999. He was released by Rams on April 28, 1999, after had become expendable since Rams had signed Adam Timmerman
Adam Timmerman
Adam Larry Timmerman is a former American football guard in the National Football League. He played for the Green Bay Packers and St. Louis Rams between 1995 and 2006...
to play right guard.
Jacksonville Jaguars
He played four more seasons with the Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
from 1999 to 2002. He signed as a free agent May 5, 1999, with the Jaguars in 1999. That season he played in 16 games with 12 starts at right guard for 14-2 Jaguars. In 2000 he started eight games at right tackle before suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in left knee. He had allowed only four sacks in eight games. He was placed on injured reserve on October 14, 2000. In 2001 he came back from injury to start all 16 games at right guard, the first time he had been able to do so since 1996. Wiegert played and started in seven games in 2002 before being placed on injured reserve on 11/6/2002. He made his first NFL start at left tackle versus Indianapolis and started four more games at left tackle before starting two games at right tackle. He was granted unconditional free agency on February
28, 2003.
Houston Texans
He spent the 2003-2006 seasons with the Houston TexansHouston 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...
. He signed by Texans on March 1, 2003. In 2003 he played in 15 games, starting 14 at right guard. In 2005 he started 12 games (five at right guard, seven at right tackle). The following season, 2006, he played in and started nine games at right tackle. On February 28, 2007, the Texans released Wiegert.