Zach Line

Zach Line (born April 26, 1990) is a former American football fullback who played seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He played college football at Southern Methodist University.

Zach Line
Line with the Minnesota Vikings in 2015
No. 48, 42
Position:Fullback
Personal information
Born: (1990-04-26) April 26, 1990
Oxford, Michigan
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:233 lb (106 kg)
Career information
High school:Oxford (Oxford, Michigan)
College:Southern Methodist
Undrafted:2013
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • C-USA Offensive Player of the Year (2012)
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:114
Rushing average:3.2
Rushing touchdowns:2
Receptions:20
Receiving yards:161
Receiving touchdowns:4
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Early years

Line attended Oxford High School in Oxford, Michigan.[1] As a senior, he had a team-high 154 tackles with eight forced fumbles and four recoveries from the inside linebacker spot; on offense, he rushed for 1,723 yards with 17 touchdowns while also throwing for three more scores.[2] For his season efforts, he was named a first Team All-State pick.

Regarded as a two-star recruit by Rivals.com, Line committed to SMU on January 29, 2008.[3] He also received a scholarship offer from Robert Morris University.[4] Line has two brothers, Prescott and Ben, that currently play at Michigan State University and Robert Morris University, respectively.[5][6][7]

College career

Line attended and played college football at SMU from 2009–2012.[8] In the 2009 season, he finished with 49 carries for 189 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns.[9] In the 2010 season, he finished with 244 carries for 1,494 rushing yards and ten rushing touchdowns.[10] In the 2011 season, he finished with 208 carries for 1,224 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns.[11] In the 2012 season, his final collegiate season, he finished with 277 carries for 1,278 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns.[12]

Collegiate statistics
Zach Line Rushing Receiving
Year School Conf Class Pos G Att Yds Avg TD Rec Yds Avg TD
2009 SMU CUSA FR RB 13 49 189 3.9 7 10 68 6.8 0
2010 SMU CUSA SO RB 14 244 1,494 6.1 10 17 163 9.6 0
2011 SMU CUSA JR RB 10 208 1,224 5.9 17 15 139 9.3 0
2012 SMU CUSA SR RB 13 277 1,278 4.6 13 33 229 6.9 0
Career SMU 50 778 4,185 5.4 47 75 599 8.0 0

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
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 Bench press
6 ft 0 1⁄2 in
(1.84 m)		 232 lb
(105 kg)		 30 3⁄4 in
(0.78 m)		 8 3⁄4 in
(0.22 m)		 4.65 s 1.60 s 2.68 s 4.40 s 7.12 s 33 in
(0.84 m)		 9 ft 9 in
(2.97 m)		 26 reps
All values from NFL Combine and Pro Day[13]

Minnesota Vikings

On April 27, 2013, Line signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent following the 2013 NFL Draft.[14] In the Vikings' first preseason game against the Houston Texans, he scored on a 61-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Cassel.[15] In the season opener against the Detroit Lions, he had one reception for eight yards in his NFL debut.[16] He appeared in two other games in the 2013 season.[17] Line was released by the team on September 14, 2014, re-signed to the practice squad shortly after, then was promoted to the active roster on October 3. On September 20, 2015, Line scored the first touchdown of his career against the Detroit Lions.[18] The next week, against the San Diego Chargers, Line scored another touchdown, the second of his career.[19] Line also caught a pass from quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and took it 49 yards to set up a score in Minnesota's 28–19 victory over the Detroit Lions in Week 7.[20] Overall, in the 2015 season, he finished with six carries for ten rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns to go along with six receptions for 95 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.[21] In the 2016 season, he finished with seven carries for 15 rushing yards in 15 games.[22]

New Orleans Saints

On August 24, 2017, Line signed with the New Orleans Saints.[23] He was released on September 2, 2017.[24] He was re-signed on October 3, 2017.[25] In 12 games, he finished with seven carries for 28 rushing yards to go along with two receptions for eight yards and a receiving touchdown.[26] The Saints made the playoffs and faced off against the Carolina Panthers in the Wild Card Round. In the 31–26 victory, he had a one-yard rushing touchdown.[27] Line and the Saints' season ended in the Divisional Round in a 29–24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.[28]

On April 5, 2018, Line re-signed with the Saints on a two-year contract.[29] In Week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons, Line scored his first touchdown on the season.[30] He finished the 2018 season with nine carries for 41 rushing yards to go along with five receptions for 14 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.[31]

In the 2019 season, Line appeared in 12 games and recorded seven carries for 20 rushing yards to go along with six receptions for 36 receiving yards.[32]

On January 15, 2020, Line announced his retirement from the NFL via Instagram after seven seasons at the age of 29.[33]

Line scored 6 touchdowns in his NFL career, two rushing and four receiving. He rushed 36 times for 114 yards, and had 20 catches for 161 yards. Line was a core special teams player as well, returning five kickoffs for 59 yards and making seven special teams tackles over the span of his career.[34]

References
  1. Katzenstein, Josh. "Saints' Zach Line leaned on high school experience to help execute fullback option". NOLA.com. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  2. "Brothers Zach and Prescott Line follow similar paths to SMU backfield". SportsDay. September 21, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  3. "Zach Line, New Orleans Saints, Fullback". 247Sports. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  4. "Zach Line". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  5. Craig, Mark. "Battered nose is a badge of honor for Vikings fullback Zach Line". Star Tribune. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  6. "Prescott Line Bio". Michigan State Athletics. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  7. "Ben Line". Robert Morris Athletics. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  8. "Zach Line College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  9. "Zach Line 2009 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  10. "Zach Line 2010 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  11. "Zach Line 2011 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  12. "Zach Line 2012 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  13. http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=83492&draftyear=2013&genpos=FB
  14. "Vikings sign Line". clarkstonnews.com. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  15. "Minnesota Vikings: 2013 - Preseason Week No. 1 - vs. Houston Texans". Minnesota Vikings. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  16. "Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions - September 8th, 2013". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  17. "Zach Line 2013 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  18. "Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings - September 20th, 2015". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  19. "San Diego Chargers at Minnesota Vikings - September 27th, 2015". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  20. "Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions - October 25th, 2015". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  21. "Zach Line 2015 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  22. "Zach Line 2016 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  23. "New Orleans Saints Announce Roster Moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. August 24, 2017.
  24. "New Orleans Saints make 37 roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. September 2, 2017. Archived from the original on October 7, 2017.
  25. Erickson, Joel A. (October 3, 2017). "Saints bring back fullback Zach Line, sign linebacker Gabe Martin". TheAdvocate.com.
  26. "Zach Line 2017 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  27. "Wild Card - Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints - January 7th, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  28. "Divisional Round - New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings - January 14th, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  29. Alper, Josh (April 5, 2018). "Saints sign Zach Line to two-year deal". ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com.
  30. "Drew Brees makes the Saints a winner with leaping overtime touchdown run". NOLA.com. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  31. "Zach Line 2018 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  32. "Zach Line 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  33. Williams, Charean (January 15, 2020). "Saints fullback Zach Line announces retirement". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports.
  34. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LineZa01.htm
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