2005 Preseason All-American, first team
2005 Preseason All-SLC First Team RS
2005 Preseason All-SLC Second Team WR
2004 All-SLC First Team RS
2004 All-Louisiana First Team RS
A quadruple threat, Zeigler barely missed being the only player in I-AA last year with at least 200 yards in four different stat categories (rushing, receiving, punt returns, kick returns). He begins his fourth year as a starting receiver and return specialist for the Demons after skipping a redshirt season and playing as a true freshman. Zeigler, son of a preacher, is already the NSU and Southland Conference single-game and career punt return leader and can finish his Demon days as the school's career leader in receptions, kickoff returns, kickoff return yardage and all-purpose yardage. He and some other members of his senior class can also become the first Demons to reach the I-AA playoffs in three seasons.
He is ranked as the nation's No. 1 return specialist by The Sports Network, making him a first-team Preseaon All-American and understandably so (15.7 punt return average last year, 26.4 kickoff return average). He is the only active player with more than 1,000 career punt return yards, and is one of only nine players in four decades of 1-AA football to surpass the 1,000 yard mark. Zeigler is the No. 1 active player in I-AA, and No. 7 all-time, on the NCAA's list of career leaders for average punt return with a 15.1 average. The NCAA's all-ime I-AA leader is former Demon and NFL All-Pro Terrence McGee (17.4,1999-2000). Zeigler is also first among active players in I-AA in punt returns (36, 2.3 per re and second among returning players in punt return yards per game (32.8).
Other Honors: All-SLC Honorable Mention, 2003... Southland Confer Special Teams Player of the Week: 9/11/04 (Jackson State), 11/13/04 (Houston State), 11/20/04 (Stephen F. Austin).
Record Watch: Already the school career record holder with 1,181 punt return yards, Zeigler could set the Division I-AA record with even a subpar year for him, 308 yards...He had a career "low" of 376 last year as he erased the Northwestern and Southland Conference record for punt return yardage (972) by All-Pro return specialist Terrence McGee .. equally impressively, Zeigler is on track to become the Demons' career all-purpose yardage king ... he has 3,879 yards, fourth all-time, and needs 773 to pass career leader Clarence Matthews ... with 78 career receptions, he is about to break into the career top 10 and is 22 away from setting the career record...Zeigler is also on the verge (77 yards) of cracking the career top 10 in receiving yardage, and would move into the top five all-time with another typical year for him.
2004: Ended the season as one of only nine Division I-AA players to achieve a "quadruple triple" with 100 yards in four stat categories - and until losses on his last two rushing attempts, he was the only player in I-AA to have at least 200 yards in four different stats: rushing, receiving, punt returns and kickoff returns ....he ranked fifth in the nation last year in punt returns (15.7 avg.), and 28th in all-purpose yardage (139.3 ypg)... his all-purpose yardage total (1,672) was fifth best in school history ... he was the Demons' second-leading receiver (18-309, 3 TDs) and had 24 punt runbacks for 376 yards, notably a sensational 71-yard TDs to salt away the win over No. 3 Sam Houston State ... Zeigler led the SLC in punt returns, kickoff return yards, and all-purpose yards ... opened the vety bang, with 82 yards on 4 receptions, 37 yards on 2 punt returns, and 72 yards, 3 kickoff returns against La.-Lafayette... was conference special teams p the week for his 10 yards on 2 catches, 72 yards on 4 punt returns, and an incredible 94 yards on 3 kickoff returns at Jackson State... 2 receptions for 74 yards,including a 45-yard TD toss from Connor Morel, 4 punt returns for 43 yards, and 1 kickoff return for 28 yards in trouncing of Texas Southern... in limited duty, had 2 catches for 76 yards, including a 49-yard TD pass from Morel, and a 21-yard kickoff return in blowout of Oklahoma Panhandle... 6 carries for 42 yards, 3 punt returns for 40 yards, and 5 kickoff returns for 118 yard in win over Appalachian State... had 3 receptions for 50 yards and 5 kickoff returns for 136 yards at North Dakota State. received second conference player of the week award after his 6 carries for 52 yards, 1 reception for 9 yards, and 3 punt returns for 86 yards including an astounding 71 yard TD return... earned a second consecutive conference player of the week award with 2 receptions for 90 yards, including a 27-yard TD from Davon Vinson, 2 punt returns for 52 yards, and 53 yards on 2 kickoff returns at Stephen F. Austin.
2003: Led the Demons in receptions, matching his rookie total with 30... led the team in punt returns, ranking ninth nationally and leading the Southland Conference with a 13.8 average... topped the team in kickoff returns with 10 for 222 yards, including a 48-yarder... caught two TD passes, a 62-yarder against Nicholls State and a 29-yarder against Delaware State... had team-best 6 catches for 96 yards against Nicholls State... had team-high reception totals in seven games.. missed the last game with a shoulder injury.
2002: Averaged 87 all-purpose yards per game... set a single-game school record with 156 yards on 7 punt returns vs. Southwestern Oklahoma... made six receptions of 25 yards or more: a 54-yard TD vs. Southern, a 43-yarder at Jacksonville State, a 33-yarder vs. Elon, and a 28-yard TD at Nicholls State...had five punt returns of 31 yards or more: 67 yards vs. SW Texas, 52 yards vs. Southwestern Oklahoma, 40 yards vs. Southwestern Oklahoma, 31 yards vs. Sam Houston State, and a 53-yard TD against Stephen F. Austin... led NSU with 3 catches for 72 yards vs. Southern... 4 catches for 90 yards, including the TD, vs. Elon.
High School: Rated 3 stars and the #53 wide receiver nationally by Rivals.com.. All-State Class 4A, All-Northeast Louisiana, All-District as a senior... 47 catches for 875 yards (18.6 average) and 12 TDs... Tigers were 10-3 and reached the state quarterfinals under coach Billy Dawson... as a junior, was All-State, All-Northeast Louisiana, and All-District with 49 catches for 970 yards (19.8 average) and 10 TDs... four-year letterman in football... one-year letterman ir track... verbally committed to Auburn in summer of 2001.
Personal: 21 years old, born 10/14/83... his father is a minister... ha two siblings, Tee (17) and Teddy (16).
