Michigan guard Zak Zinter opts to return to U-M for senior year
Michigan collective Valiant Management started its “one more year” collective with guys like Blake Corum, Trevor Keegan, Gemon Green Zak Zinter, and others in mind, hoping to get them back for a run at another Big Ten title. It’s worked for some, like Corum and Keegan, and they’ve been hopeful it would for others, as well.
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After weeks of deliberating back and forth, Zinter announced Sunday he’d return to U-M for his senior season.
The 6-6, 315-pound Zinter started all 14 games for Michigan at right guard, earning consensus first team honors this year and helping earn the line the Joe Moore Award (best group nationally) for the second straight season. He earned second team All-Big Ten honors last year from the media, honorable mention from the coaches, and has appeared in 33 games with 31 starts at Michigan.
In addition to the One More Year campaign, Zinter has been earning NIL (Name, Image, and likeness) money from other sources. He and four of his lineman teammates signed a deal with Southfield advisory firm Telemus not long ago. Center Olu Oluwatimi, Ryan Hayes, Giovanni El-Hadi, and Keegan inked with the registered investment advisory firm based in Southfield, Mich.
The firm offers financial advising and investment/asset management for high net worth individuals, according to a release.
“We are thrilled to support one of the nation’s elite offensive lines,” Lyle Wolberg, CFP, CEO and partner at Telemus Capital, said in a statement. “These incredible student-athletes have put in a tremendous amount of time and effort this season in protecting their quarterback and helping their team reach the pinnacle of the sport. At Telemus, our team protects our clients’ wealth, and we are extremely proud of both our nationally ranked Telemus team and the Michigan Wolverines.”
Keegan admitted before the Fiesta Bowl in Arizona weeks ago that he and Zinter spoke a lot about their decisions. He also said they both realized they had to do what was best for them.
Corum, meanwhile, acknowledged upon his return he would be working on both of them to join him in returning to Michigan.
Zinter is ESPN analyst Mel Kiper’s No. 3 draft-eligible guard. His 75.7 overall Pro Football Focus grade after the Big Ten title win over Purdue tied for ninth in the Big Ten among guards. He’s been a road grader in the run game and allowed only 7pressures, including 1 sack, this season.
