Quick Facts of Nick Zakelj

American football offensive tackle Nick Zakelj is a member of the National Football League (NFL) San Francisco 49ers. In the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the 49ers selected him.

He is among the very few players from Fordham University, a tiny university in the Bronx, New York, who make it to the NFL.

How much is the Net worth of Nick Zakelj?

The Net worth of an American Football Player, Nick Zakelj is estimated to be around $1 million USD. His salary is around $694,445 and his career earnings is $1,589,801.

Early years, Family and Education

On June 22, 1999, in Broadview Heights, Ohio, Nick Zakelj was born. With his mother, Lisa, a former collegiate volleyball player, and father, Mark, a former collegiate basketball player, he grew up in a family that loved athletics. Nicole and Natalie, his two elder sisters, were involved in athletics both in high school and college.

Nick followed in his father’s footsteps and began playing football at the age of six. Before deciding to specialize in offensive lineman, he played running back, quarterback, and linebacker. As a four-year starter and team captain at Brecksville–Broadview Heights High School, he went there.

Nick was a key member of his team’s two conference titles and three state playoff appearances. In addition, he excelled academically, having a 4.0 GPA and was inducted into the National Honor Society.

Family Background

Nick is proud of his Croatian background and comes from a family of Croatian ethnicity. In the 1950s, his grandparents left Croatia to immigrate to the US and lived in Cleveland, Ohio. They put a lot of effort into supporting their family and taught their kids and grandkids the importance of sports, education, and religion.

Nick claimed that his motivation and source of inspiration come from his family. He remarked that his parents, who made great sacrifices to support his aspirations, are the reason he is everything. Also, he added that his successful sisters are someone he looks up to.

He said he works hard every day to make his family proud and that he intends to return the favor one day.

High school and College career

Despite receiving multiple scholarship offers from Division I universities, Nick decided to enroll at Fordham University, a Patriot League Division I FCS institution. He claimed that Fordham’s academic standing, geographic location, and coaching staff drew him in. In addition, he desired to establish himself in a more competitive setting.

From 2017 to 2021, Nick played five seasons with the Fordham Rams. During his first season, he moved up to starting tackle, and during his college career, he never missed a game. As a sophomore, he was named to the Patriot League second team, and in his final three seasons, he was named to the first team.

As a senior, Zakelj was also selected to the FCS All-America squad. He earned a master’s degree in business analytics and a bachelor’s degree in finance.

Journey to pro

Despite having an excellent college record, Nick was not considered a high NFL prospect by many people. He had to rely on his pro-day performance to impress scouts because he was not invited to the NFL Combine. At six feet six inches and 316 pounds, he completed the 40-yard dash in 5.13 seconds. During the drills, he also demonstrated good strength and agility.

With the 187th overall choice in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Nick was chosen by the San Francisco 49ers. He was the 12th player in Fordham history to be drafted and the first since 2015. He expressed his gratitude and happiness at joining the 49ers, a team known for its winning culture and long history.

As a rookie, Nick was added to the 53-man roster and appeared in nine games, primarily as a special teams player. As a backup tackle, he also saw some action, and his versatility and work ethic impressed the coaches. Nick received high marks from his coaches and colleagues, including offensive line coach Chris Foerster and seasoned tackle Trent Williams.

Injuries and setbacks

A torn bicep injury that Nick sustained in Week 10 against the Los Angeles Rams ended his rookie season. After being put on injured reserve, he had surgery to fix the problem. He expressed his disappointment and frustration, but he was also resolved to bounce back better and stronger.

When Nick tested positive for COVID-19 during the offseason, it was yet another setback. He suffered with minor symptoms including coughing, fever, and loss of smell. Also, he was forced to spend two weeks by himself and was not present for the start of the training camp.

He expressed gratitude to his family and the medical personnel for their assistance and stated he was fortunate to recover rapidly.

In August, Nick made a comeback to the field and went back to playing backup tackle. He declared himself fit and prepared to support the group. He said that his injuries and tribulations had given him new insight into both life and football and that he had learnt a lot from them.

Relationship Status of Nick Zakelj:

Nick isn’t dating right now and is concentrating on his football career. He claimed he doesn’t have time for dating and would much rather hang out with his teammates and pals. His roommate in college and best friend, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, lives with him in the same house.

They have a strong friendship and spend a lot of time together watching movies, playing video games, and preparing food.

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