Kansas Jayhawks
Michael Zunica - Football - Kansas Jayhawks
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Michael Zunica

Position Fullback
Height 5'11''
Weight 225 lbs.
Class Senior
Hometown Palos Park, Ill.
High School St. Rita of Cascia HS
bio

Career Honors: 2016: All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (coaches); Academic All-Big 12 Second Team. 2015: All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (coaches); Academic All-Big 12 Second Team; Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll and Athletic Director’s Honor Roll (fall and spring). 2014: Academic All-Big 12 Second Team; Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll and Athletic Director’s Honor Roll (fall and spring). 2013: Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll and Athletic Director’s Honor Roll (fall and spring).
 
Career Summary: Played in 33 games… Started six contests… Caught five passes… Turned in 85 yards receiving… Grabbed one touchdown… Long reception of 40 yards… Returned a kickoff 14 yards… Provided five tackles… Recovered one fumble.
 
2016 (Sr.): Played in all 12 games on special teams and at fullback… Started in the backfield at Oklahoma and at West Virginia… Caught the first five passes of his career on the season… Turned in 85 receiving yards… Hauled in his only touchdown at K-State… Long reception of 40 yards at West Virginia… Responsible for two receptions and 42 yards at West Virginia… Made three tackles on special teams coverage… ­­­Rhode Island: Caught the first pass of his career and turned up field for 22 yards in the first quarter of KU’s season-opening victory… Ohio: Saw time, but did not record any statistics… at Memphis: Saw time, but did not record any statistics… Rotated in on offense and recovered a fumble on punt coverage leading to a Kansas touchdown… TCU: Recorded one tackle against the Horned Frogs, but did not post any offensive statistics… at Baylor: Did not record any statistics… Oklahoma State: Recorded time in the backfield as a blocker and on special teams, but did not record any statistics… at Oklahoma: Logged extended time in the backfield, but did not record any statistics… at West Virginia: Hauled in the second and third passes of his career… Took his first reception a career-long 40 yards… Iowa State: Rotated in to block on offense and made one tackle against the Cyclones… Texas: Saw time on offensive formations to block, but did not record any statistics… at K-State: Caught two passes for 21 yards, including a touchdown pass from four yards out – the only score of his career.     
 
2015 (Jr.): A versatile player who seeks contact… Switched from linebacker to a blocking fullback midway through the season… Played in all 12 games, starting four against Iowa State, Baylor, Oklahoma and TCU… South Dakota State: Saw time, but did not record any statistics… Memphis: Saw time, but did not record any statistics… at Rutgers: Saw action on the offensive side of the ball, substituting in to block in short-yardage situations… at Iowa State: Started on offense to block out of the backfield… Baylor: Started his second-straight game on the offensive side of the ball… Texas Tech: Saw time, but did not record any statistics… at Oklahoma State: Saw time on offense, but did not record any statistics… Oklahoma: Started at fullback, but did not record any statistics… at Texas: Saw action, but did not record any statistics… at TCU: Saw time at fullback and on special teams, but did not record any statistics… West Virginia: Started at fullback, but did not record any statistics… K-State: Rotated in at fullback, but did not record any statistics.    
 
2014 (So.): Saw time in 9-of-12 games in a reserve linebacker and special teams role in 2014… at K-State: Saw extended playing time, where he made his first career tackle.
 
2013 (RFr.): Sat out the season due to NCAA transfer rules.
 
2012 (Fr. at Columbia): Redshirted his first season at Columbia.
 
High School: A two-year letterwinner at St. Rita of Cascia HS… Played fullback and running back… A team captain his senior year… Earned First Team All-Chicago Catholic League honors in 2011… Also named First Team Academic All-State as a senior… As a senior, rushed for 443 yards and four touchdowns on 82 carries… Also had 19 receptions for 154 yards and two TDs… Helped lead St. Rita to the state 7A semifinals in both his junior and senior seasons… Played for head coach Todd Kuska at St. Rita… Earned three letters playing baseball and one letter playing basketball… Played baseball for his father, Michael, and helped lead his team to the 4A state championship game his freshman and sophomore seasons.
 
Personal: Son of Michael and Jacqueline Zunica… His father, Michael, played baseball at St. Xavier… Majoring in business administration.