Greg Zuerlein
| St. Louis Rams | |||||||||||
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| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | December 27, 1987 Lincoln, Nebraska | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| College: | Missouri Western State | ||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 2012 / round: 6 / pick: 171 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of Week 5, 2012 | |||||||||||
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Greg Zuerlein (born December 27, 1987) is an American football placekicker for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League.
Early years
Zuerlein, also known as "Greg the Leg", "Legatron"[1], or "Young G.Z.," was born in Lincoln, Nebraska and graduated from Lincoln Pius X in 2006.
In 2004, Zuerlein set a Nebraska state record for field goals in a season, converting 12 of 16 attempts with a long of 52 yards. His play would earn him Nebraska All State and All Class honors as a junior and senior.[2]
College Career
He kicked for three seasons for the University of Nebraska-Omaha but sat out the 2010 season with a hip injury. Zuerlein set the UNO school record of 61 consecutive PATs while converting 19 of 26 field goal attempts.
UNO cancelled its football program in 2011 and he moved to another Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association school -- Missouri Western State University in 2011. There he set a NCAA Division II record of 21 consecutive field goals including nine that were 50 or more yards which in turn included two 58-yard field goals. He had a .952 field goal percentage completing 23 of 24 attempts—the highest of any NCAA player in any division with 12 or more attempts in 2011 as he averaged 10.7 points per game.[3] [4]
Professional Career
St. Louis Rams
Zuerlein was the sixth round choice (171st overall) in the 2012 NFL Draft. He was the first non Bowl Championship Series kicker to be picked since Stephen Gostkowski in 2006 and the first kicker below the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision since Paul Ernster in 2005. The Rams cut their primary kicker Josh Brown, who was in the final year of his $14.5 million five year deal, after drafting Zuerlein.[4][5]
In Week 3 against the Chicago Bears, Zuerlein made a 56-yard field goal, the longest at Soldier Field.[6]
In Week 4, Zuerlein hit a 60-yard field goal against the Seattle Seahawks, which beat the franchise record of 58 yards, set by Zuerlein earlier in the same game. The kick broke Jeff Wilkins' 14-year record.[7] He also became the first player in NFL history to make a 60-yard field goal and a 50-plus yarder in the same game.
After Week 4, in a "Grantland" article, sports and pop-culture writer Bill Simmons popularized a nickname for Zuerlein suggested by one of his readers: Legatron. This nickname is a play on "Megatron", leader of the Decepticons in the "Transformers" franchise and also the nickname of American Football player Calvin Johnson, a wide receiver for the Detroit Lions known for his super-human athletic feats.
NFL Records and Honors
- NFC Special Teams Player of the Week - 2012 Season - Week 4
- Longest Field Goal in Rams History: 60 yards
- First player in NFL History to make a 60-yarder and a 50-plus yarder in one game.
- Longest Field Goal in the first quarter: 58 yards (tied with Nick Lowery)
References
- ^ Simmons, Bill. "The Island of Dr. Simbeau". Grantland. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
- ^ "St. Louis Rams official website". Retrieved October 4, 2012.
- ^ Associated Press. "Rams pick K Greg Zuerlein of Missouri Western in sixth round". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 29, 2012.[dead link]
- ^ a b Sipple, Steven M. (April 28, 2012). "Pius X grad Zuerlein gets sixth-round call from Rams". Lincoln Journal Star. Journalstar.com. Retrieved April 29, 2012.
- ^ Associated Press (April 28, 2012). "St. Louis Rams to release veteran kicker Josh Brown - ESPN". Espn.com. Retrieved April 29, 2012.
- ^ Mayer, Larry (September 18, 2012). "Bears cruise behind strong defensive effort". Chicagobears.com. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
- ^ Associated Press (September 30, 2012). "Greg Zuerlein makes St. Louis Rams-record 60-yard field goal". NFL.com. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
Template:Persondata Longest fieldgoal for a Rookie