Zane Gonzalez
Zane Gonzalez (born May 7, 1995) is an American football placekicker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Arizona State University and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Gonzalez holds the NCAA Division I record for field goals made in a career.[1][2] He was a unanimous All-American in 2016.[3] He was awarded the Lou Groza Award in 2016.[4]
No. 5 – Arizona Cardinals | |||||||||||||
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Position: | Placekicker | ||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||
Born: | Deer Park, Texas | May 7, 1995||||||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||
Weight: | 202 lb (92 kg) | ||||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||||
High school: | Deer Park (Deer Park, Texas) | ||||||||||||
College: | Arizona State | ||||||||||||
NFL Draft: | 2017 / Round: 7 / Pick: 224 | ||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||
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Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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Career NFL statistics as of 2020 | |||||||||||||
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College career
Arizona State University signed Gonzalez on March 28, 2013.[5] He played college football for the Sun Devils from 2013–2016.
During his freshman year in 2013, Gonzalez played every game, connecting on 25 of 30 (83.3%) field goals on the season and converted all 63 extra point attempts.[6] Gonzalez had a streak of 18 field goals converted, an ASU freshman record.[7] He was awarded with a First Team All-Pac-12 selection.[8] Gonzalez broke the ASU record for points by a kicker with 138 on the season along with tying the NCAA record for field goals made by a freshman.[9]
During his sophomore year in 2014, Gonzalez connected on 22 of 27 (81.5%) field goals and was 50–52 on extra points.[10] Gonzalez was awarded with a Second-Team All-Pac-12 selection.[11] On October 18, he matched a then-career high with four field goals against Stanford.[12] On November 11, Gonzalez kicked four field goals including a game-winning field goal in overtime against Utah.[13] He was named the Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week.[14] On December 27, Gonzalez kicked three field goals in the 2014 Sun Bowl.[15]
During his junior season in 2015, Gonzalez scored on 26 of 34 (76.5) field goals and converted all 52 extra point attempts. On November 28, Gonzalez matched the Pac-12 record with an ASU school record six field goals against California. On January 2, 2016, he kicked four field goals against West Virginia in the 2016 Cactus Bowl.[16] In the third quarter, he became the school’s all-time scoring leader, surpassing Luis Zendejas (380).[17]
During his senior year in 2016, Gonzalez recorded 23-of-25 (92.0%) field goals and only missed one of 40 extra point attempts. On September 16, Gonzalez kicked four field goals against UTSA.[18] He is the first Sun Devil in history to kick more than one 50-yarder in a game.[19] With his second field goal of the night early in the second quarter, Zane Gonzalez broke the Pac-12 record for points scored in a career with his 416th.[19] He was named the Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week.[18] On September 24, Gonzalez kicked three field goals and six extra points against California.[20] With his three field goals, Gonzalez moved into 4th in NCAA history for career field goals made at 84.[21] Gonzalez’s first field goal of the night broke the school record for career made field goals.[22] He was named the Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week.[21] On October 8, he kicked three field goals against UCLA.[23] Gonzalez broke the NCAA career field goals made record with his 89th career field goal in the fourth quarter.[24] He was named the Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week for the third time.[24] On October 15, he kicked three field goals against Colorado.[25] He holds the record for career points by a kicker with 468, passing FSU’s Dustin Hopkins (466).[24] He also tied the NCAA record for most 50+ yard field goals in a game with three.[24] He was named to his fourth Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week, becoming the second player to ever do this, joining California kicker Doug Brien.[24] On December 8, he was awarded the Lou Groza Award, become the second player in ASU history, joining Thomas Weber (2007).[4] On December 12, he was named a unanimous All-American, becoming the third in school history and the first since Terrell Suggs earned the honor in 2002.[3]
In the 2017 Senior Bowl, Gonzalez kicked three field goals, tying a record that had been held since 1985.[26]
Professional career
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand size | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | ||
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6 ft 0 1⁄2 in (1.84 m) |
202 lb (92 kg) |
29 1⁄2 in (0.75 m) |
9 in (0.23 m) |
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All values from NFL Combine[27] |
2017 season
The Cleveland Browns selected Gonzalez in the seventh round (224th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.[28] On May 16, 2017, the Browns signed him to a four-year, $2.48 million contract with a signing bonus of $89,156.[29][30][31] Gonzalez competed with incumbent kicker Cody Parkey for the starting job during Cleveland's 2017 training camp. The Browns decided on Gonzalez as their kicker for the season on September 1, 2017.[32]
On September 10, 2017, in the season-opening 21–18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Gonzalez recorded his first career extra point and field goal, which was a 24-yard attempt.[33] On October 22, 2017, in a Week 7 12–9 loss to the Tennessee Titans, he scored all nine points on three field goals, including a career-long of 54 yards.[34] Overall, in the 2017 season, he converted 25 of 26 extra point attempts and 15 of 20 field goal attempts.[35]
2018 season
In Week 1, in the 21–21 tie against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Gonzalez had a game-winning 43-yard attempt blocked in overtime that would have given the Browns the win.[36] On September 16, in a Week 2 21–18 loss to the New Orleans Saints, Gonzalez missed two field goals and two extra points, including a PAT that would have given the Browns a 19–18 lead. He concluded the game by missing a 52-yard field goal with 3 seconds left, sealing the loss.[37] He was waived by the Browns the following day, September 17.[38]
Arizona Cardinals
On November 20, 2018, Gonzalez was signed to the Arizona Cardinals practice squad.[39] He was promoted to the active roster on November 26, 2018 following an injury to Phil Dawson.[40]
On December 2, 2018, in a Week 13 20–17 win against the Green Bay Packers, Gonzalez recorded two field goals and extra points which included the 44-yard go-ahead field goal that eventually gave the Cardinals the win.[41]
Gonzalez re-signed with the Cardinals on April 23, 2020. [42] He was placed on injured reserve on December 19, 2020.[43]
References
- Bonagura, Kyle (October 6, 2016). "Zane Gonzalez breaks NCAA career record with 89th made field goal". ESPN. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- Morgan, Craig (October 8, 2016). "ASU kicker Zane Gonzalez breaks NCAA field goal record – Arizona Sports". Arizona Sports. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- Haller, Doug (December 14, 2016). "ASU kicker Zane Gonzalez a unanimous All-American". AZCentral. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- Haller, Doug (December 8, 2016). "ASU's Zane Gonzalez wins the Groza Award". azcentral. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- "Zane Gonzalez – 2012 Football Roster – TheSunDevils.com – Arizona State University Athletics". www.thesundevils.com.
- Haller, Doug (August 3, 2014). "ASU kicker Zane Gonzalez looks to regain his form". azcentral. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- Haller, Doug (December 7, 2013). "Stanford puts an end to ASU football's Rose Bowl chase". azcentral.com. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- White, Stu (December 2, 2013). "Ka'Deem Carey leads Pac-12 all-conference selections". FanSided. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- Hummer, Chris (October 14, 2016). "NFL.com 'game-changers' in the 2017 Draft". 247Sports. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- Connelly, Bill (August 19, 2015). "Arizona State's rebuild is over. Look out!". SBNation.com. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- Garcia, Jacob (October 2, 2014). "ASU Football: Sun Devils notch six all-conference selections". www.cronkitesports.com. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- Buchanan, Zach (October 18, 2014). "Rewind: ASU comes up big vs. Stanford". azcentral. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
- Buchanan, Zach (November 2, 2014). "Mr. Dependable: Zane Gonzalez kicks ASU to victory". azcentral. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
- "ASU kicker Zane Gonzalez named Pac-12 Special Teams Player of Week". Arizona Sports. November 3, 2014. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
- "Arizona State Edges Duke, 36–31, at the 81st Hyundai Sun Bow". www.sunbowl.org. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
- Shelton, Zach (January 3, 2016). "Cactus Bowl 2016: Game Grades, Analysis for West Virginia vs. Arizona State". Bleacher Report. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
- Grialou, Craig (January 3, 2016). "Mountaineers out lasts Sun Devils". Arizona Sports. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
- Pelton, Connor (September 19, 2016). "ASU Football: Gonzalez named a Lou Groza 'Star of the Week'". House of Sparky. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
- "Hansen, Decoud, Gonzalez earn weekly Conference honors". Pac-12. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
- Denny, Brad (September 25, 2016). "ASU rallies to top Cal 51–41, stays undefeated". Retrieved February 22, 2017.
- "Montez, Thomas, Gonzalez earn weekly Conference honors". Pac-12. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
- Pelton, Connor. "ASU Football: Zane Gonzalez breaks school record for made field goals". House of Sparky. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
- Salgado, Gabe (October 14, 2016). "ASU kicker Zane Gonzalez enjoying best season in a record-breaking NCAA career". Fox News. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
- "Lindsay, Thomas, Gonzalez earn weekly Conference honors". Pac-12. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
- Haller, Doug (October 15, 2016). "No. 24 ASU bullied in blowout loss at Colorado". azcentral. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
- Cole, Chris (January 28, 2017). "Zane Gonzalez ties Senior Bowl record with 3 field goals". azcentral. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
- "NFL Draft Profile: Zane Gonzalez". nfl.com. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
- Gribble, Andrew (April 29, 2017). "Browns select Arizona State K Zane Gonzalez with No. 224 pick in 2017 NFL Draft". ClevelandBrowns.com. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
- "Spotrac.com: Zane Gonzalez contract". spotrac.com. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
- "Zane Gonzalez". OvertheCap.com. 2017. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
- Labbe, Dan (May 17, 2017). "Browns sign kicker Zane Gonzalez to rookie contract". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
- Cabot, Mary Kay. "Zane Gonzalez has won the Cleveland Browns kicking job over Cody Parkey". Cleveland.com. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
- "Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns – September 10th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
- "Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns - October 22nd, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
- "Zane Gonzalez 2017 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
- "Browns' Zane Gonzalez: Misses crucial field goal". CBSSports.com. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
- "Saints avoid disaster with first victory, keep Browns waiting". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
- Labbe, Dan. "Browns sign kicker Greg Joseph". cleveland.com. The Plain Dealer. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
- Urban, Darren (November 20, 2018). "Cardinals Cut Jamar Taylor, Add Zane Gonzalez To Practice Squad". AZCardinals.com. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
- Urban, Darren (November 26, 2018). "Cardinals Cut Andre Smith, Bené Benwikere; Put Phil Dawson, Josh Bynes on IR". AZCardinals.com. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
- "Arizona Cardinals at Green Bay Packers - December 2nd, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
- Urban, Darren (April 23, 2020). "Zane Gonzalez Signs Restricted Free Agent Tender Offer". AZCardinals.com. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
- Urban, Darren (December 19, 2020). "Cardinals Place Zane Gonzalez, Jordan Phillips On IR; Sign D.J. Foster". AZCardinals.com.