Zach Zenner

white lightning

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This is great news. I haven't seen him play yet other than hilites but I look forward to it. Thanks for the update.
 

Jimmy Chitwood

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Zach is leading the nation in rushing, after once again displaying his explosiveness. he finished the game against Western Illinois with a 60-yard touchdown run and a 46-yard touchdown run, leading his Jackrabbits to another win.

in 5 of South Dakota State's 6 games this year, Zenner has at least one run of 60 or more yards. that's an INCREDIBLE streak of big plays.

here's a closer look at them:

*99-yard touchdown at Kansas; totals: 23 carries, 183 yards, 1 touchdown, 8.0 average
42 yard run at SE Louisiana; totals: 34 carries, 278 yards, 1 touchdown, 8.2 average
*61-yard touchdown vs. UC Davis; totals: 21 carries, 197 yards, 2 touchdowns, 9.4 average
*87-yard run at Indiana State; totals: 29 carries, 237 yards, 1 touchdown, 8.2 average
*88-yard touchdown vs. Missouri State; totals: 30 carries, 182 yards, 1 touchdown, 6.1 average
*60-yard touchdown vs. Western Illinois; totals: 19 carries, 171 yards, 2 touchdowns, 9.0 average

in just 6 games, Zenner has run for 1,248 yards on 156 carries. he's averaging 8.0 yards per attempt and has scored 8 touchdowns.

what makes his performance even more amazing is that he is putting up these numbers on a team with an anemic passing attack (averaging about 150 yards per game with 5 td passes to 11 interceptions) AND while missing arguably the team's two best offensive linemen. simply incredible.

barring something unforeseen, Zenner should take over the #2 single-season rushing mark in school history in the Jackrabbits' next game, at Northern Iowa.

the all-time single-season and career rushing leader for South Dakota State is Josh Ranek, who ran for over 6,000 yards in his career (#2 in college football history at the time) and 1,804 yards in the 2001 season.

Ranek is another White tailback who was screwed by the Caste System. he went undrafted by the NFL and lasted just a single day in the Dallas Cowboys training camp despite his incredible production and 4.5 speed. Ranek, nicknamed "The Little Ball of Hate" for his aggressive running style, went on to be an All Star while running for over 1,000 yards 3 times in the CFL in a stellar but brief career up north.

*****************************

i've been thinking of a nickname for Zach, and i've heard several good ones:
Z-squared (seems to be the favorite and several of his teammates call him by this)
Zennergizer Bunny
the Zen Master (clever!)
Zoom Zoom Zenner (after the Mazda commercials)

i personally prefer ZZ Tops, as in tops in the nation in rushing. :thumbsup:

any better ideas?
 
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Jimmy Chitwood

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Zenner was held to 112 yards (a season low) on 19 carries (5.9 yards-per) and no touchdowns in South Dakota State's unexpected loss to Northern Iowa. he did have a career-high 5 catches, though, but for just 22 yards.

some good news came out, as well. Zenner has been named to the Walter Payton Award watch list. :thumbsup: the Payton Award goes to the outstanding player in the Football Championship Subdivision.

you can read the whole story and see a mid-season highlight video (which is still packed with BIG plays) at the link: http://www.gojacks.com/ViewArticle....53&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=15000&ATCLID=205703643
 

white lightning

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Thanks for posting that exciting video! Damn is this kid special. He is very explosive but he also alot more of a powerful runner than I had imagined. What a find! I had to watch it twice since I enjoyed it so much. I need to watch some games live on the computer. Good luck to Zach the rest of the year! I will be keeping a very close eye on this kid.
 

Jimmy Chitwood

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Zenner was held to a season-low 49 yards on 17 carries in a narrow win over Southern Illinois, 16-12, in a game that was decided on a touchdown pass with 7 seconds left.

as happened last week, the opposing defense loaded up against the run and dared SDSU's quarterback to beat them with his arm. he had just enough to get it done, but the strategy worked to limit ZZ Tops.

Zenner now has 1,496 rushing yards on the year.
 

Jimmy Chitwood

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for the second-consecutive week, Zenner was held to a season low in rushing yards, this time just 43 yards on 14 carries, as the Jackrabbits lost to #1-ranked North Dakota State. the strategy to load the box and force SDSU to throw the ball is working, as quarterback Austin Sumner managed just 163 yards on 18-29 passing.

there was some good news this week for Zenner, though. he has a shot at being an Academic All-American.

Running back Zach Zenner earned SDSU's sixth — and final — selection (to the Capital One Academic All-District 6 Team) on the offensive side of the ball. A sophomore from Eagan, Minn., Zenner not only leads the Football Championship Subdivision in rushing with an average of 166.2 yards per game, but he has posted a 3.78 GPA while majoring in biology and pre-medicine.

candidates will advance to the national ballot for Academic All-America consideration later this month.
 

Jimmy Chitwood

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after a couple of poor (for him) performances, ZZ Tops once again topped the century mark in SDSU's victory over South Dakota.

Zenner ran for 164 yards and 1 touchdown on 28 carries, while adding 2 catches for 23 yards.

he is now #2 in the FCS rushing rankings on the year, with 1,703 yards.

as a side note, the even less-heralded Eric Beitenstein of Wofford now sits at #3 nationally, with 1,653 yards on the ground.
 

Jimmy Chitwood

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ZZ Tops had over 200 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground at halftime of SDSU's first round playoff game today.

numbers still pending ...
 

TwentyTwo

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Zach Zenner finished with 295 yards rushing & 3 TD's on 33 carries! In a 58-10 victory over Eastern Illinios.

GO Jackrabbits!!! Hope they go deep into the playoffs!

Fantastic job Jimmy C...Thanks!!
 

Jimmy Chitwood

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i apologize for the double post, but i didn't want this info to be lost in the NFL thread where i originally posted it ...

after the unquestioned shunning/ignoring of so many talented White running backs (former record-setters and phenoms such as Brian Shay, RJ Bowers, Steve Bartalo, Luke Staley, Chance Kretschmer, Justin Beaver, and Nate Kmic and current talents such as Zach Line, Toby Gerhart, and the aforementioned names in this thread plus literally DOZENS more), i find myself wondering how the NFL will go about dismissing the talents of South Dakota State's gifted junior, Zach Zenner.

check out what this kid, who was completely ignored by every Division One program in the nation coming out of high school, has accomplished in just the past season-and-a-half:

- 2,044 yards rushing (6.8 avg) and 13 touchdowns; averaged 157.2 yards-per-game in 2012
- 858 yards rushing (6.6 avg) and 12 touchdowns; averaging 143.0 yards-per game (thru 6 games in 2013)
- five 100-yard games (and two 200-hundred yard games) so far this season (thru 6 games)
- nine 100-yard games (and three 200-hundred yard games) last year as a soph (13 games)
- averaged 42.8 yards on his 13 scoring runs in 2012 (electrifying big plays, anyone?)
- averaging 18.6 yards on his 12 scoring runs in 2013 (and a 23-yard receiving touchdown)
- ran for 183 yards (8.3 avg) and 1 touchdown (from 99 yards!) against Division I Kansas in 2012
- ran for 202 yards (9.6 avg) and 2 touchdowns (40 and 3 yards) against Division I Nebraska this season

but then again, we already know the answer. the "experts" will either claim that he is a fullback and say he's too small, or simply ignore him altogether after he runs "faster than expected" at his Pro Day, since he won't be invited to the Combine.

[video=youtube;S6qfjsPMMao]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6qfjsPMMao[/video]
 

Jimmy Chitwood

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ZZ Tops exploded for another big play his last game out, with an 80-yard scoring jaunt in the third quarter. he also scored on a 1-yard run in the fourth.

he topped the 100-yard mark again, running for 133 yards (and the 2 touchdowns) on 21 carries. it marks the 6th 100-plus-yard game this season, thru 7 games played. he is only 9 yards short of surpassing the 1,000-yard mark for the season, already.

the only issue i'm concerned with regarding perhaps the best tailback in collegiate football (regardless of level) is Zenner's HEAVY workload. despite all his big plays and his hefty per-carry average (6.6 yards-per), he is carrying the ball a LOT. he already has 151 carries on the year ...

i hope he doesn't get worn down.
 

backrow

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ZZ Tops exploded for another big play his last game out, with an 80-yard scoring jaunt in the third quarter. he also scored on a 1-yard run in the fourth.

he topped the 100-yard mark again, running for 133 yards (and the 2 touchdowns) on 21 carries. it marks the 6th 100-plus-yard game this season, thru 7 games played. he is only 9 yards short of surpassing the 1,000-yard mark for the season, already.

the only issue i'm concerned with regarding perhaps the best tailback in collegiate football (regardless of level) is Zenner's HEAVY workload. despite all his big plays and his hefty per-carry average (6.6 yards-per), he is carrying the ball a LOT. he already has 151 carries on the year ...

i hope he doesn't get worn down.

I see what you did there, Jimmy!

:p

good news on Zach, thanks bud
 

Don Wassall

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The announcers during Zenner's 99 yard run posted by Jimmy above of course don't mention the word "speed," which is taboo when it comes to the many fast White football players in college and the NFL. Instead the emphasis is on a defensive breakdown, as it often is when an "overachieving" running back has a big play.

But we're routinely told whoppers like the one about Lagarrett Blount having "breakaway speed," per the announcing team of the New England-Cincy game a couple of weeks ago. I still can't get over that one, it has to rank as one of the more outrageous Caste-speak quotes ever.
 

celticdb15

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Good article!

Prolific South Dakota State junior running back Zach Zenner staying effective for slumping Jackrabbits.
 

Jimmy Chitwood

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Brady Mengarelli

ZZ Tops sat out SDSU's spring game to avoid injury, but another White running back stepped up and made big plays. redshirt freshman Brady Mengarelli was the statistical star of the day with 105 yards and 3 touchdowns on just 14 carries.

he is, of course, a walk-on.

110317a.jpg

Brady Mengarelli showing his lack of athleticism by leaving a would-be tackler grasping futilely in the wake of his overachieving blue collar work ethic

to quote from a local news story:
Still, Mengarelli had the best day. The 5-foof-10, 195-pound back rushed for 81 yards and three touchdowns in the first half alone. It wasn't a fluke, either. He's had a productive spring and was named scout team offensive player of the year in the fall. There's been talk of moving the Arizonan to safety to ensure he can get on the field. His showing Saturday was a mark against that idea.

he completely out-played the two tailbacks *â„¢* on the team, in former Minnesota prep players of the year Reggie Gandy and Bridgeport Tusler. they are, of course, on scholarship.

Mengarelli was a record-setting all-state running back (and all-state outfielder in baseball) at Prescott (AZ). also of course. he was the region Player of the Year and established school records for yards in a game (419), yards in a season (1,960), touchdowns (22) and yards per carry in a season (9.6), all before being completely ignored by every collegiate recruiter in the nation due to the Caste System.

[video=youtube;njV6ZTnTwEc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njV6ZTnTwEc&feature=youtu.be[/video]
 

Leonardfan

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Is Zenner going to be a senior this year? Looking forward to see what he is able to do this year.
 

Hawkeye2

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From what I've read Zenner has no interest in the NFL. He is an excellent student and is looking to pursue his Phd in Biology, which is probably the better move, than being told to bulk up and play fullback.
 

Extra Point

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Ranek is another White tailback who was screwed by the Caste System. he went undrafted by the NFL and lasted just a single day in the Dallas Cowboys training camp despite his incredible production and 4.5 speed. Ranek, nicknamed "The Little Ball of Hate" for his aggressive running style, went on to be an All Star while running for over 1,000 yards 3 times in the CFL in a stellar but brief career up north.

It's hard to show what you can do when you're only given one day.
 
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If Zenner does not go to the NFL look for Yale's Tyler Varga. He reminds me of a stronger Travis Jervey without the same 40 speed. If I owned an NFL team he would be a very good starting rb. Just my 2 cents.
 

Leonardfan

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I hope to catch one of zenner's games this season. All I know about him comes from seeing his stats and highlights.
 

Jimmy Chitwood

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ZachZenner_zpsf4179e82.jpg


coming off yet another MONSTER game in the FCS (193 yards and 1 touchdown), just imagine if Zach Zenner were playing in the FBS … he might be the nation's all-time leading rusher.

ever.

after all, his resume is even better in games against the so-called big boys of collegiate football than they are when he's playing other FCS schools. and that's saying something, considering how impressive his overall numbers are: he has rushed for 100 yards or more in 23 of his 29 starts, and has gone over 200 yards six times.

just consider this. two years ago, ZZ Tops ran for a school-record 99-yard touchdown (and 183 yards total) at Kansas. last year at Nebraska, he ran for 202 yards and 2 touchdowns on 21 carries despite sitting out most of the second half. this season against Missouri of the SEC, the first time he touched the ball he exploded for a 75-yard touchdown, en route to yet another 2-touchdown, 100-yard-plus performance.

in 3 starts against BCS schools, the Zen Master has run for 488 yards and 5 touchdowns on 61 carries (a whopping 8.0 yards-per-carry average!) while adding 89 yards on 12 catches.

despite those eye-popping numbers, Zenner is projected to be an NFL fullback. and if he's drafted at all, it's expected to be in the 6th or 7th round.

CBS Sports' Dane Brugler wrote, "Zenner doesn't have NFL suddenness …" whatever the hell that means. well, truthfully, it just means he is a White running back.

to show you how ridiculous Brugler is as a so-called "evaluator," check out this link. he actually lists a prospects 40-time DOWN TO THE HUNDREDTH OF A SECOND and does so as if it is a FACT rather than his own conjured-from-his-own-ass estimation. here is a snippet:

Several big-name running back prospects from the power programs had productive 2014 debuts, but so did a few "small school" backs against FBS competition. South Dakota State RB Zach Zenner (5-11 | 220 | 4.62) averaged 6.1 ypc against the Missouri defense, finishing with 103 yards against the Tigers, his 22nd career game surpassing the century mark. ... North Dakota State RB John Crockett (5-11 | 218 | 4.61) was a big part of the Bison upset at Iowa State, rushing for 139 yards on 17 carries (8.2 ypc) and three touchdowns. ... Northern Iowa RB David Johnson (6-1 | 215 | 4.57) didn't have a 100-yard rushing game against Iowa, managing only 34 yards on the ground for a 2.6 average, but he did finish with an astounding 203 yards receiving on only five receptions, recording catches of 53, 60 and 70 yards. ... Zenner, Crockett and Johnson are arguably the top three "small school" senior RB prospects, and helped their cases vs. FBS talent last weekend.
the truth is, virtually none of his listed prospects have ever run the 40 since they began their collegiate careers, much less run for him in person. he's a total, unfunny joke of an "analyst." but he is just one of many bloviating blowhards who are in the business of propping up black affletes and tearing down White athletes.

this is what "lack of NFL suddenness" apparently looks like:

[video=youtube;S6qfjsPMMao]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6qfjsPMMao[/video]

Zenner has run for back-to-back 2,000-yard seasons (only one other FCS back has run for 2,000 yards twice), and if he stays healthy will more than likely do so again this year. and just think, his only scholarship offer coming out of high school (despite averaging 8.9 yards per carry his senior season as a finalist for the Minnesota Mr. Football) was to South Dakota State. "weird," huh?

i won't bother pointing out the obvious racial double standards involved, as anyone on this website should already be knowledgable of them.
 
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Jimmy Chitwood

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more "fullback" speed …

[video=youtube;OOgP__4I3d8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOgP__4I3d8[/video]
 
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