Jonathan Zenon
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born: | August 2, 1984 Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 176 lb (80 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Breaux Bridge (LA) |
| College: | Louisiana State |
| Position: | Cornerback |
| Undrafted: | 2008 |
| Career history | |
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Career NFL statistics | |
| Player stats at NFL.com | |
Jonathan Zenon (born August 2, 1984) is a former American football cornerback. A Louisiana native, he played for LSU from 2004 to 2007 and totaled 25 pass breakups and nine interceptions, including the game-winning interception return for touchdown in the 2007 SEC Championship Game that helped propel the Tigers to the 2007 national championship.
Early years[edit]
Zenon was born in 1984 in Lafayette, Louisiana. He attended Breaux Bridge High School in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. He played at the running back position at Breaux Bridge.[1]
LSU[edit]
He played college football for LSU from 2004 to 2008, appearing in 41 games, 30 as a starter.[2][3] He finished his college career with 91 tackles, nine interceptions, and 25 pass breakups.[4]
As a junior, he returned interceptions for touchdowns in the first two games of the 2006 season.[5] He helped lead the 2006 team to a Sugar Bowl championship and a No. 3 ranking in the final AP Poll.
As a senior, he started all 14 games at left cornerback for LSU's 2007 national championship team.[2] In the 2007 SEC Championship Game against Tennessee, with the Tigers trailing 14–13 with 9:54 remaining in the game, Zenon intercepted an Erik Ainge pass and returned it for the game-winning touchdown.[6] Years later, Zenon recalled the play: "Our coaches gave us great looks throughout the week and as soon as I saw the formation, I knew exactly where to go. I just got in front of the ball."[7] In his history of LSU football, Scott Rabalais described Zenon's interception as "a play for the ages."[8] The pick was also ranked as one of the ten most memorable individual performances in the history of the SEC championship game.[9]
Professional football[edit]
Zenon went undrafted in the 2008 NFL Draft. He was given a tryout by the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints.[4] He was then signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in May 2008,[10] and was given a one-year contract at the end of July.[11] He later signed with the Cincinnati Bengals but sustained a hamstring injury and was waived in August 2008 with an injury settlement.[12] In December 2008, he was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars to their practice squad.[13]
References[edit]
- ^ "LSU's Zenon has good week". The Times. September 6, 2006. p. 6C – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Jonathan Zenon". LSU. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
- ^ "Jonathan Zenon". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
- ^ a b "Zenon gets a shot". The Daily Advertiser. May 11, 2008 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Zenon does it again". The Daily Advertiser. September 10, 2006. p. 4B – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "LSU gets past Tennessee: Jonathan Zenon's interception return for TD and the play of a backup QB propel the Tigers". Tampa Bay Times. December 2, 2007. p. 8C – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "SEC Championship". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. December 2, 2016. p. C7 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Scott Rabalais (2008). "The Fighting Tigers, 1993–2008: Into a New Century of LSU Football". LSU Press. p. 166. ISBN 978-0807133705.
- ^ "SEC Championship's 10 most memorable individual performances". Saturday Down South. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
- ^ "Jets sign pair of free-agent corners in Zenon, Patton". The Journal News. May 21, 2008 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Transactions". Quad-City Times. July 29, 2008 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Roster Moves". The Cincinnati Enquirer. August 6, 2008 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Transactions". The Montreal Gazette. December 24, 2008 – via Newspapers.com.