Football Student-Athlete Spotlight: Zak Zinter
11/16/2023 10:00:00 AM | Football
Balancing life as a student-athlete at the University of Michigan is no easy task. In this series, U-M football players who are getting their business done on the field and in the classroom are spotlighted as a credit to their work ethic and organization. Get to know them better as students by learning what subjects, experiences, teachers, professors, and lessons have impacted them most during their academic careers in this Student-Athlete Spotlight Series.
Q. As you consider your time remaining as a student-athlete at the University of Michigan, what do you want your legacy to be off the field and on?
Zak Zinter: I want to be remembered as a great student-athlete. Someone who was not only an All-American with their pads on but also an All-American inside the classroom. I'm proud to have contributed towards my legacy by being a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. I aim to leave this university having gained the respect of my professors, teammates, coaches and peers.
Q. Outside of your athletic achievements, what are you most proud of during your time at the University?
ZZ: I'm most proud of the bonds and relationships I have with people on the team, along with people I've met in the classroom. I've been fortunate enough to have made connections at this university that will allow me to feel supported throughout the rest of my life, even after football. My success thus far has not only been grounded in the strides I've taken on my own but has also been greatly influenced by the voices I have around me. No matter my performance on the field, I know someone will always have my back.
Q. What has been the important skill that you have developed in your time at Michigan and in achieving your academic goals?
ZZ: The important skill that I've developed at Michigan is definitely time management, especially when it comes to balancing football and academics. I know a lot of people talk about the importance of this skill, but there's a reason. To be successful in whatever it is you're working towards, it's essential that you properly delegate the hours in your day. I mean, think about it: everyone, including someone you idolize, has 24 hours in a day. That's a fact; that doesn't change. The impressive results someone might achieve aren't because they were given longer days, but because they learned how to maximize those 24 hours to achieve their fullest potential. I try to live up to the standards I've set for myself, on the field and off, by balancing my workloads evenly and setting specific time aside to focus on individual tasks. I'm grateful to have been taught this skill by my mentors here, at Schembechler Hall, as well as by those in the Academic Center, particularly Kevin (Lubrano). Since I was a freshman, it's been ingrained in me to build out a schedule each day. At first, my schedule was a lot more structured, but now I've been able to build a natural rhythm that has allowed me to stay on track.
Q. What is your biggest goal for the academic year?
ZZ: First and foremost, to be Academic All-Big and get A's in all of my classes. I'm also a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which some people call the Academic Heisman -- so it would be pretty sweet to also receive that honor.
Q. As you briefly mentioned, you are a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy; the 10th Wolverine to have received the honor. What does it mean to you to be recognized as one of the best in the nation for your football, academic and leadership success?
ZZ: I think it's pretty special to not only be acknowledged for my academic achievements but also to be in the same category as some of the Michigan greats who have come before me, such as Aidan Hutchinson, who was the last Wolverine to be a finalist for this award. Just being in that realm of other accomplished student-athletes is an immense honor and a special opportunity. To be honest, I wasn't working towards 'the title.' I truly care about my academics and have always taken pride in being on top of my classes, so it's fulfilling to see that these past three years of hard work have paid off. With that being said, since the award is in such close reach, I'm definitely striving towards it now. It won't break me if I don't win, but it certainly would be cool.
Q. What's some advice you would give an incoming freshman, or someone interested in attending the University of Michigan?
ZZ: My advice for an incoming student or freshman would be to find something you really like to do and build your community around that. Whether it's a club, intramural sport, or athletic team, stick to it. It doesn't have to be a huge thing but find what you're passionate about. Build genuine relationships and bonds that will last a lifetime. That way, when things start going good or bad, you'll always have a solid support system while you're in college. Also, make sure to focus on one thing at a time. If you're going to do homework, do homework. If you're going to watch film, watch film. For me, when I enter the football facility, I try to turn my mind off of school and focus solely on football. The same goes for when I'm in the classroom, I focus solely on school. This centered mindset will allow you to do your best in exact moments, which will all eventually add up in the long run to you achieving your fullest potential.
Q. What was the best school field trip you ever went on?
ZZ: It wasn't the most extravagant field trip, but I really enjoyed the team trip around Michigan. I'd been living in Michigan for three years, but I'd never really been outside of Ann Arbor or the Detroit area. Being able to go Up North, to the Upper Peninsula, and see Lake Charlevoix was a super special experience. I would have never imagined all those beautiful places were in Michigan. I'm from Florida originally, so it was really impactful to see all that Michigan and the Midwest has to offer.
Q. What is your favorite memory from elementary or middle school?
ZZ: I don't have a specific memory from elementary or middle school, but every time I think back to those years of my life, my third-grade teacher, Mrs. Whelms, always comes to mind. She was a very impactful individual in my childhood, especially when it came to academics. She was the one who kind of put me on the right path. I was never really into academics when I was younger, especially reading, but Mrs. Whelms always took the extra time to make sure I was comfortable with the content we were learning. It's crazy to wonder how I would have turned out without her support, guidance, and influence.
Q. Are you involved in any extracurricular clubs or leadership activities?
ZZ: I'm not in any particular clubs, but I do try to spend the little free time I have on giving back to others, especially in the Ann Arbor community. For example, over the past few years, I've had the opportunity to visit Mott Children's Hospital a few times. Because of the passionate fan base that Michigan Football has, some people look up to players like myself, so being able to go to the hospital and set a good example for those who look up to us is super important to me. Needless to say, walking into the room of a sick kid and seeing their face light up is an extremely touching experience. These kids are going through a lot, so being able to bring an ounce of joy to them is worth everything to me.
Q. In addition to your professors, who have been the most influential person in your academic career?
ZZ: At Michigan, as I mentioned, Kevin in the Academic Center has had a huge impact on my academic success. It was hard starting college during COVID, but Kevin made a point to get me through my classes and encourage me to stay on track. He helped me build a healthy balance between football and my academics, which I truly believe has gotten me to where I am today.
Q. What has been your most memorable academic experience?
ZZ: I've had a lot of memorable academic experiences at this university, but the one that stands out to me the most is a sales pitch I did in Professor Ron Wade's class. The basis of the assignment was to come up with a business proposal, give an in-depth report and presentation directly to a company, and convince the decision-makers to take action on your pitch. It was a great opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone and practice my public speaking. I really enjoyed getting to work with a group of new people, bounce ideas off one another, and hear suggestions from different perspectives.
Q. What has been your favorite class and why? What professor has had the greatest impact?
ZZ: My favorite professor has to be Ron Wade. At this point, I've taken maybe three or four of his classes and have loved each of them. He's a super passionate and knowledgeable person, always engaging with our classes. And as I mentioned in the last response, my favorite class is SM 444; nothing beats that sales pitch project.
Q. What is your favorite book and/or podcast?
ZZ: My favorite book is "The Maze Runner" by James Dasher, simply because it's one of the only books that I ever got sucked into. I remember reading the entire book for the first time in one sitting. I'm currently listening to a ton of podcasts right now. "New Heights" with the Kelce brothers and "Bussin' With The Boys" with Will Compton and Taylor Lewan are easily my top two.
