Colorado University Athletics
SAM ZIMMERER BIOGRAPHY
SAM ZIMMERER, DE
6-4, 240, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Air Academy)
HIGH SCHOOL?A four-year letterman and three-time team captain who stood out on both sides of the ball, Rivals.com tabbed him the No. 34 strong side defensive end in the nation and the 11th-best player in Colorado his senior year. Both SuperPrep and PrepStar both named him to their All-Midlands squads (SuperPrep ranked him No. 58 overall in the region), while Scout.com rated him the No. 44 player (and the second tight end) on its Midlands Hot 100 list. A first-team all-state (4A) selection by the Rocky Mountain News on offense, he also garnered honorable mention all-state accolades by the Denver Post. In addition, he earned first-team all-Foothills League honors on offense, as well as second-team tributes on defense. As a junior he was a first-team all-area and all-league selection at tight end, and was second-team league as a sophomore. During his senior campaign, he had 56 tackles (36 solo), including seven for losses and six quarterback sacks, to go with seven quarterback hurries, one recovered fumble and six pass breakups. On offense he caught 10 balls for 100 yards and one touchdown. Before injuring his knee early in 2003, he played in four games and made eight catches for 80 yards and two scores; on defense he posted 35 tackles (25 solo), four tackles for loss, three sacks, three hurries and four pass deflections. As a sophomore he reeled in 250 yards and four touchdowns on 25 receptions, while he added 17 tackles, three sacks, seven hurries, two fumble recoveries, five pass breakups, one interception and a blocked kick. Starting four games at defensive end/outside linebacker as a freshman, he had what proved to be the game-winning sack against Pueblo South during Air Academy’s homecoming game. Top games: in a 34-10 win over Wasson as a sophomore, he hauled in five passes for 60 yards and one score; in a 52-28 victory against Pueblo Central his senior year, he had eight tackles (seven solo) and three sacks; he also added four catches for 40 yards. Under coach Brian Sherman, Air Academy was 8-3 his senior season and finished in a three-way tie for league champs, before falling to eventual 4A title winner ThunderRidge in the opening round of the playoffs; AAHS was 6-4 his junior year and 7-4 his soph season, winning the league title. He has also lettered twice in basketball playing center, as he averaged 10 points, seven rebounds and two blocks per game. In track (throws), he has lettered once with personal bests in the shot put (42-0) and discus (130-0).
ACADEMICS?He is interested in sociology as a possible major at Colorado. He has been on the honor roll several times throughout high school.
VITALS?Has 4.8 speed in the 40 and bench presses 290 pounds.
RECRUITING?He selected Colorado over Colorado State, Kansas State, Oregon, Air Force and BYU.
PERSONAL?Born July 5, 1986 in Dallas, Texas. Hobbies include playing video games and lifting weights. In eighth grade he and current Oklahoma tailback D.J. Wolfe played on a basketball all-star team that won the National 3-on-3 Championship that year.
(Last name is pronounced zimm-er-er)