2019 FCS Athletics Directors Association 22nd Academic All-Star Team
2019 Southland Conference Football All-Academic Team
2019 LSWA All-Louisiana Collegiate Football team, honorable mention
2019 Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award Finalist
2019 Second Team All-Southland Conference
2019 CoSIDA Academic All-District Football Team
2019 William V. Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
2019 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Nominee
2019 Second Team Preseason All-Southland Conference
2018 Southland Conference Male Representative, NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum
2018 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Fall Honor roll
2017 All-Louisiana First Team
2017 All-Southland Conference (Second Team)
2017 CoSIDA Academic All-District VI
2017 Southland Conference All-Academic Team
2017 FCA Athletic Directors Academic All-Star Team
2016 Honorable mention All-Southland
2016 Academic All-Southland
2016 CoSIDA Academic All-District VI
2015 Southland Conference Commissioner’s Fall Honor Roll
2019 Season: Earned his third CoSIDA Academic All-Region honor ... all-around student-athlete was a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy and for STATS FCS' Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award ... started all 12 games at left guard ... produced four games with double-figure knockdowns, topped by 15 against Southeastern Louisiana on Sept. 28 ... also had double-figure knockdowns against No. 4 LSU (Sept. 14), Houston Baptist (Sept. 21) and Central Arkansas (Oct. 19).
2018 Season: Started the last four games of the season after recovering from a shoulder injury, received a redshirt … returned against Houston Baptist and recorded a team-high 30 knockdowns in the win … had at least 20 knockdowns in all four games he played … registered a season-high 36 knockdowns in the win at rival Stephen F. Austin … was the team leader in knockdowns in every game he played in … SLC Male Representative at the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum.
2017 Season: All-Louisiana First Team as an offensive lineman … All-Southland Conference Second Team as an offensive lineman … finalist for Academic All-America after capturing a spot on the CoSIDA Academic All-Region VI team … picked for the Southland Conference All-Academic Team … selected on the FCA Athletic Directors Academic All-Star Team … made 11 starts on the offensive line … 21 career starts is the most of any NSU returner … top-rated offensive lineman with the highest grade in eight games … seven grades of at least 80 percent … top grade was an 86 percent against Nicholls … other high grades included 85 percent (McNeese), 84 percent (Lamar), 83 percent (Grambling), 82 percent (La. Tech and Southeastern).
2016 Season: A finalist for Academic All-America honors in his first season as a starter, with a 4.0 GPA … starting all 11 games, averaged 76 percent grade on the field, second among Demons’ O-line behind only All-Southland center Cameron Hussey … led the team in O-line grades twice, with an 85 percent rate at McNeese, and 82 percent at Lamar as the Demons ran for 390 yards, the sixth-best single-game total in school history … was second in six other games … NSU ranked second in the Southland in rushing yards per game (204) in conference play, third overall (190.4 ypg) … earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors in a region stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border … was one of 40 offensive lineman on the Academic All-America ballot from eight districts.
2015 Season: Appeared in 10 games with one start as a true freshman … started against Incarnate Word, played season-high 81 plays with a 60 percent grade … season-high 82 percent grade vs. UL Lafayette on nine plays … other offensive line performances include 70 percent grade vs. Miss. State (18 plays), 72 percent grade vs. Central Arkansas (19 plays) and 66 percent grade vs. Sam Houston State (three plays) .. won the Athletic Department’s Male Freshman Student-Athlete of the Year with his 4.0 GPA … earned membership in Alpha Lamda Delta national honor society for freshman students.
High School: Two-time all-county and three-time all-district lineman … lettered in football for three years and wrestling for one year (fifth place in region and second in district) … graduated with a 3.4 core GPA.
Personal: Son of Robert and Jennifer Zirkle … dad is an IT manager ... mom is in care management ... one sister Kayla … born July 17, 1997 … nickname is “Beef Zirky” … graduated with a business degree and is now pursuing a homeland security degree … on the SAAC executive board ... is a community service director ... aims to pursue professional football or find a sales job in Houston ... life’s ambition is to make an impact on the world and reach his full potential.
