Brandon Zylstra Explained

Brandon Zylstra
Position:Wide receiver,
Return specialist
Birth Date:25 March 1993
Birth Place:Spicer, Minnesota, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lbs:215
High School:New London-Spicer
(New London, Minnesota)
College:Concordia–Moorhead
Undraftedyear:2016
Pastteams:
Highlights:
  • CFL All-Star
  • CFL West All-Star
Statlabel1:Receptions
Statvalue1:30
Statlabel2:Receiving yards
Statvalue2:414
Statlabel3:Receiving touchdowns
Statvalue3:1
Cflstatlabel1:Receptions
Cflstatvalue1:134
Cflstatlabel2:Receiving yards
Cflstatvalue2:2,195
Cflstatlabel3:Receiving touchdowns
Cflstatvalue3:8
Cfl:brandon-zylstra/162103/
Pfr:ZylsBr00

Brandon Zylstra (born March 25, 1993) is a professional American football wide receiver and return specialist who is a free agent. He played college football at Concordia–Moorhead. After going undrafted in 2016, Zylstra signed with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He has also played for the Minnesota Vikings and Carolina Panthers.

High school career

After playing football and basketball at New London-Spicer High School in New London, Minnesota, Zylstra did not receive any Division I scholarship offers.[1]

College career

Zylstra played college football at Augustana University for a year and then Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.[2] [3] In 2013, during his first year at Concordia, he caught 41 passes for 774 yards with seven touchdowns. In 2014, while working a summer job on the grounds crew at Moorhead Country Club, he suffered a foot injury which required surgery which caused him to miss 1 game. He finished his college career with 1,932 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns in 29 games with the Cobbers.

Zylstra was also an outstanding track and field athlete at Concordia. In 2015, Zylstra helped lead his team to a first-place finish at the Cobber Duals, clearing the bar at 6'8" (2.03m) to win the high jump, and traveling a distance of 21'6.75" (6.57m) to win the long jump.[4] He posted a personal-best leap of 22'5.75" (6.85m) in the long jump at the Thundering Herd Classic on February 7. Later in the season, Zylstra came away with the only event win for Concordia at the Cobber Twilight Meet. His 6'9" high jump tied the indoor school-record mark set by Joe Schmidgall back in 2000. He also won the long jump competition with a mark of 21'10" (6.65m).[5] Zylstra ultimately broke the outdoor record at the MIAC meet, clearing 6'10.75" Zylstra went on to compete for the Division 3 track nationals where he came in with the third best height in 2015. (2.10m).[6]

Professional career

Before the 2016 NFL draft, Zylstra participated in North Dakota State's pro day and at an NFL regional combine in Arizona, posting a 34-inch vertical jump, a 4.64-second 40-yard dash and 16 reps on the 225 lbs bench press. While he went undrafted, he impressed scouts with his athleticism and catching ability.

Edmonton Eskimos

Following college, Zylstra moved to Arizona to train with former teammate Griffin Neal. While in Arizona, he attracted the interest of CFL teams during tryouts and was signed by the Edmonton Eskimos to a two-year contract.[7] [8] In his first season in the league Zylstra made a quick impact, catching 34 passes for 508 yards with 3 touchdowns in only six regular season games. In two playoff games he caught six passes for 108 yards. He was named the Eskimos rookie of the year for the 2016 season.[9] Zylstra had an outstanding 2017 campaign, leading the CFL in receiving yards with 1,687 (225 ahead of second place S. J. Green). He played a big role in both of the Eskimos playoff games as well, catching 12 passes for 221 yards with one touchdown. He was named a CFL All-Star after the conclusion of the season.[10]

Minnesota Vikings

On January 3, 2018, Zylstra signed a standard rookie, non-guaranteed three-year deal starting at a $480,000 salary for 2018 with the Minnesota Vikings.[11] He made the Vikings roster, playing in all 16 games primarily on special teams, and had one catch for 23 yards against the New York Jets in Week 7.[12]

On August 31, 2019, Zylstra was waived by the Vikings.[13]

Carolina Panthers

On September 1, 2019, Zylstra was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers.[14] Zylstra caught one of two targets for seven yards in a Week 14 40–20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.[15] In Week 17, against the New Orleans Saints, Zylstra posted a career-high six catches on eight targets for 96 yards.[16] On December 27, 2020, Zylstra scored his first career NFL touchdown after recovering a muffed punt return in the endzone that was mishandled by Washington Football Team returner Steve Sims Jr. during the first quarter of a 20–13 victory for the Panthers. After the game, Zylstra was congratulated by Washington head coach Ron Rivera, who was his coach the previous season.[17] [18]

On February 22, 2021, Zylstra signed a one-year contract extension with the Panthers.[19] He was placed on injured reserve on October 19, 2021.[20] He was activated on November 13.[21]

On December 18, 2021, Zylstra kicked off three times in place of Zane Gonzalez after he got injured in warmups against the Buffalo Bills, averaging 48.7 yards per kick.[22]

On March 16, 2022, Zylstra re-signed with the Panthers.[23] He was released on August 30, 2022.[24]

Detroit Lions

On October 4, 2022, Zylstra signed with the Detroit Lions, joining his brother Shane on the practice squad.[25] Zylstra was activated along with Shane for Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers.[26]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tomasson . Chris . April 7, 2018 . Zylstra is the mix for Vikings . October 30, 2020 . Bismarck Tribune . en.
  2. Web site: April 6, 2018 . Could small-town receiver Brandon Zylstra be Vikings' next Adam Thielen? .
  3. Web site: Brandon Zylstra trying to make his own path to NFL . .
  4. Web site: February 4, 2015 . Brandon Zylstra, Concordia .
  5. Web site: April 28, 2015 . Welcome To The Outdoor Season Brandon Zylstra .
  6. Web site: Zylstra stares down Concordia men's outdoor high jump record,... .
  7. News: Reusse . Patrick . July 27, 2017 . A rising star in Canadian football, Minnesota receiver might not be done climbing ladder . Star Tribune . July 27, 2017.
  8. News: Marquette . Justin . April 14, 2016 . Zylstra offered CFL contract, still pursing [sic] NFL dreams . The Concordian . July 27, 2017 . October 2, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171002022759/http://theconcordian.org/2016/04/14/zylstra-offered-cfl-contract-still-pursing-nfl-dreams . dead .
  9. News: November 3, 2016 . Receiver Brandon Zylstra follows two seasons of Eskimos rookies of the year . Edmonton Sun . December 7, 2017.
  10. News: December 6, 2017 . Five Edmonton Eskimos named CFL all-stars . Edmonton Sun . December 7, 2017.
  11. Web site: January 3, 2018 . Vikings Sign Minnesota Native Brandon Zylstra To Futures Contract . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180104132625/http://www.vikings.com/news/article-1/Vikings-Sign-Minnesota-Native-Brandon-Zylstra-To-Futures-Contract/da8e135f-c306-4bf4-87e7-b7bda7c2f422?sf178076025=1 . January 4, 2018 . January 4, 2018 . Vikings.com.
  12. Web site: Minnesota Vikings at New York Jets – October 21st, 2018 . October 30, 2020 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  13. Web site: August 31, 2019 . Vikings Announce Roster Moves, Set Initial 53-Man Roster . Vikings.com.
  14. Web site: Panthers' Brandon Zylstra: Claimed off waivers . October 30, 2020 . CBSSports.com . en.
  15. Web site: Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons – December 8th, 2019 . October 30, 2020 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  16. Web site: Henson . Max . September 1, 2019 . Panthers part with Torrey Smith, Elijah Holyfield, Kevon Seymour to make three waiver claims. c. . October 30, 2020 . Panthers.com.
  17. Web site: A Touchdown to Remember for New London Grad . September 19, 2021 . wctrib.com . December 27, 2020.
  18. Web site: Panthers vs. Washington: Game Summary . September 19, 2021 . . December 27, 2020.
  19. Web site: Gantt . Darin . February 22, 2021 . Panthers bring back two wide receivers . live . February 23, 2021 . www.panthers.com . en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20210222215755/https://www.panthers.com/news/brandon-zylstra-keith-kirkwood-re-signed-carolina . February 22, 2021 .
  20. Web site: Punter Ryan Winslow signed to active roster, Brandon Zylstra placed on injured reserve. Gantt, Darin. Panthers.com. October 19, 2021.
  21. Web site: Panthers activate Juston Burris, Brandon Zylstra. Bryan, Will. Panthers.com. November 13, 2021.
  22. Web site: Notebook: Zane Gonzalez injury leaves Panthers scrambling. Gantt, Darin. Panthers.com. December 19, 2021.
  23. Web site: Panthers agree to terms with Brandon Zylstra. Gantt, Darin. Panthers.com. March 16, 2022.
  24. Web site: Panthers make transactions to get to initial 53-man roster. Panthers.com. August 30, 2022.
  25. Web site: October 5, 2022 . Lions add kicker Michael Badgley among practice squad signings . January 15, 2023 . Lions Wire . en-US.
  26. Web site: The Zylstra brothers will become the 6th set of brothers to both play in the same game for the @Lions, & they will be the 1st pair of siblings on the offensive side of the ball to do so. This will mark the first football game the brothers have ever played together. #OnePride . November 6, 2022 . Twitter . @LionsPR. en.