{{Short description|American football player (born 1999)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Zack Kuntz | image = Zack Kuntz FanDuel Interview 2023.png | alt = | caption = Kuntz in 2023 | current_team = | number = | position = Tight end | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|6|4}} | birth_place = Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 7 | weight_lb = 251 | high_school = Camp Hill {{nowrap|(Camp Hill, Pennsylvania)}} | college = {{ubl|Penn State (2018–2020)|Old Dominion (2021–2022)}} | draftyear = 2023 | draftround = 7 | draftpick = 220 | pastteams = * New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2023|2024}}) * Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2026}})* | status = | highlights = * First-team All-Conference USA (2021) | statweek = | statseason = 2023 | statlabel1 = Receptions | statvalue1 = | statlabel2 = Receiving yards | statvalue2 = | statlabel3 = Touchdowns | statvalue3 = | pfr = KuntZa00 }} '''Zackary Patrick Kuntz''' (born June 4, 1999) is an American professional football tight end. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions and Old Dominion Monarchs and was selected by the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL) in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL draft.
==Early life== Kuntz was born on June 6, 1999, in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. He attended Camp Hill High School, where he was a member of their basketball, football, and track & field teams.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lancasteronline.com/sports/nfl/pennstate/penn-state-te-recruit-kuntz-to-the-opening-and-then-early-to-state-college/article_09c6f87c-430c-11e7-96e9-fbec71308fa4.html|title=Penn State TE recruit Kuntz to The Opening and then, early, to State College|work=LNP|date=May 27, 2017 |access-date=September 2, 2022}}</ref> He had 49 receptions for 793 yards and 11 touchdowns during his sophomore season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/sports/college/2016/09/22/op-2018-te-zack-kuntz-set-for-notre-dame-return-visi/118506726/|title=Top 2018 TE Zack Kuntz set for Notre Dame return visit|work=The Herald-Times|date=September 22, 2016|access-date=September 6, 2022}}</ref> As a senior, Kuntz caught 40 passes for 1,060 yards and nine touchdowns.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/sports/colleges/penn_state/penn-state-spring-football-key-positions-james-franklin-20180411.html|title=Penn State seeking to fill some key positions in spring football|first=Joe|last=Juliano|work=Philadelphia Inquirer|date=April 11, 2018|access-date=September 2, 2022}}</ref> He also won the Pennsylvania Class AA Championship in the 110-meter hurdles as a junior.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/2017/05/penn_state_commit_zack_kuntz_c.html|title=Penn State commit Zack Kuntz caps track and field career with PIAA gold medal in 110m hurdles|work=The Patriot-News|date=May 27, 2017|access-date=September 6, 2022}}</ref> Kuntz was rated a four-star recruit and committed to play college football at Penn State over offers from Alabama, Michigan, and Ohio State.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2678298-zack-kuntz-to-penn-state-nittany-lions-land-4-star-te-prospect|title=Zack Kuntz to Penn State: Nittany Lions Land 4-Star TE Prospect|first=Tyler|last=Conway|website=Bleacher Report|date=November 26, 2016|access-date=September 6, 2022}}</ref>
==College career== Kuntz enrolled early and joined the Penn State Nittany Lions in January 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/2017/05/penn_state_zack_kuntz_recruiti.html|title=Penn State recruit Zack Kuntz has a change of plans|work=The Patriot-News|date=May 26, 2017|access-date=September 2, 2022}}</ref> He played in one game and caught one pass for eight yards before redshirting his true freshman season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://triblive.com/sports/penn-states-zack-kuntz-aims-for-breakout-among-most-talented-tight-end-room-in-the-country/|title=Penn State's Zack Kuntz aims for breakout among 'most talented tight end room in the country'|work=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review|date=July 8, 2020|access-date=September 2, 2022}}</ref> Kuntz played in all 13 of Penn State's games, primarily on special teams, and had two receptions for 18 yards on offense.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/2020/04/penn-states-tight-end-position-is-in-good-hands-with-pat-freiermuth-this-year-but-what-about-the-future.html|title=Penn State's tight end position is in good hands with Pat Freiermuth this year, but what about the future?|work=The Patriot-News|date=April 13, 2020|access-date=September 2, 2022}}</ref>
After his redshirt sophomore season, Kuntz transferred to Old Dominion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.saratogian.com/2021/04/12/penn-state-football-camp-hill-grad-tight-end-zack-kuntz-announces-transfer-to-old-dominion/|title=Penn State Football: Camp Hill grad, tight end Zack Kuntz announces transfer to Old Dominion|work=The Saratogian|date=April 12, 2021|access-date=September 2, 2022}}</ref> In his first season with the Monarchs, he caught 73 passes for 692 yards and five touchdowns and was named first-team All-Conference USA.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pennlive.com/highschoolsports/2022/08/could-former-penn-state-current-odu-te-zack-kuntz-be-a-high-nfl-draft-pick-adam-breneman-weighs-in.html|title=Could former Penn State, current ODU TE Zack Kuntz be a high NFL draft pick? Adam Breneman weighs in|work=The Patriot-News|date=August 20, 2022|access-date=September 2, 2022}}</ref>
==Professional career== {{NFL predraft | height ft = 6 | height in = 7 3/8 | weight = 255 | dash = 4.55 | ten split = 1.57 | twenty split = 2.61 | shuttle = 4.12 | cone drill = 6.87 | vertical = 40.0 | broad ft = 10 | broad in = 8 | bench = 23 | arm span = 34 | hand span = 10 1/4 | note = All values from NFL Combine<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/zack-kuntz/32004b55-4e18-4573-2a82-42b17b1995fa |title=Zack Kuntz Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=May 1, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1022872&DraftYear=2023 |title=2023 NFL Draft Scout Zack Kuntz College Football Profile |access-date=May 1, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}</ref> }}
=== New York Jets === Kuntz was selected in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL draft by the New York Jets.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pennlive.com/highschoolsports/2023/04/camp-hills-zack-kuntz-has-message-for-jets-after-team-takes-him-in-nfl-draft.html|title=Camp Hill's Zack Kuntz has message for Jets after team takes him in NFL Draft|work=The Patriot-News|date=April 30, 2023|access-date=April 30, 2023}}</ref> He was waived on August 29, 2023 and re-signed to the practice squad.<ref>{{cite web|title=Final Cuts: Jets Move 31 More to Get Their Roster to 53 Players|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-53-man-roster-2023-season|author1=Lange, Randy|author2=Greenberg, Ethan|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=August 29, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Jets Add 10 Players from Their Preseason Roster to the Practice Squad|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-practice-squad-2023-season|author=Lange, Randy|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=August 30, 2023}}</ref> He was promoted to the active roster on December 27.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jets Place OL Duane Brown on Injured Reserve; Sign TE Zack Kuntz|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-place-ol-duane-brown-on-injured-reserve-sign-te-zack-kuntz|author=Greenberg, Ethan|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=December 27, 2023}}</ref>
On August 27, 2024, Kuntz was waived by the Jets and re-signed to the practice squad.<ref>{{cite web|title=Final Cuts {{!}} Jets Move 37 to Get Their Roster to 53 Players|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-53-man-roster-2024-season|author=Greenberg, Ethan|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=August 27, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Jets Sign 17 Players to Practice Squad|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-practice-squad-2024-season|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=August 28, 2024}}</ref> He signed a reserve/future contract with New York on January 6, 2025.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jets Sign 10 Players to Reserve/Future Contracts|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-sign-10-players-to-reserve-future-contracts-01-06-2025|author=Greenberg, Ethan|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=January 6, 2025}}</ref>
On August 24, 2025, Kuntz was waived by the Jets as part of final roster cuts.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jets Release LB Jamin Davis; Waive Six Players|url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-roster-cuts-08-24-2025|author=Allen, Eric|website=NewYorkJets.com|date=August 24, 2025}}</ref>
=== Miami Dolphins === On January 14, 2026, Kuntz was selected by the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Day Two of UFL Draft Introduces New Faces and Ignites the New Era of Spring Football |url=https://www.theufl.com/news/day-two-of-ufl-draft-introduces-new-faces-and-ignites-the-new-era-of-spring-football |access-date=2026-01-16 |website=www.theufl.com |language=en}}</ref> However, he later signed a futures contract with the Miami Dolphins on February 6.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dolphins sign Kuntz to futures contract |url=https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/dolphins-sign-kuntz-to-futures-contract |website=MiamiDolphins.com |access-date=6 February 2026}}</ref> Kuntz was waived by the Dolphins on May 4.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dolphins make roster moves |url=https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/dolphins-make-roster-moves-x4792 |website=MiamiDolphins.com |access-date=5 May 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://odusports.com/sports/football/roster/zack-kuntz/6533 Old Dominion Monarchs bio] *[https://gopsusports.com/sports/football/roster/zack-kuntz/10561 Penn State Nittany Lions bio]
{{Jets2023DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kuntz, Zack}} Category:1999 births Category:Living people Category:People from Camp Hill, Pennsylvania Category:Players of American football from Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Category:American football tight ends Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football players Category:Old Dominion Monarchs football players Category:New York Jets players Category:Miami Dolphins players Category:American people of German descent Category:21st-century American sportsmen