Zach Slate

Height:
6-5
Weight:
227
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Melbourne, Fla.
High School:
Melbourne

Eager to return to active competition after spending the 2005 campaign primarily in strength and conditioning program as a redshirt ... Also contributed an unselfish and productive performance as scout team member ... Has added nearly 20 pounds to already strong and tall frame since freshman season ... An agile and mobile athlete who will be counted on to provide quality depth, if not starting service, at one of the defensive slots - especially until Shauntae Hunt returns from an off-season injury ... Will open camp as a member of the depth chart ... Played initial season as an outside linebacker under previous coaching staff ... Will also be counted on to serve a key role on the ECU special teams squad ... Tallied six tackles (two solo) and recovered a fumble during the [apos]06 Purple-Gold Spring Game.

2005: Redshirted to enhance strength and size ... Provided an experienced look to offensive line as scout team performer.

2004: Earned first college letter as a top-tier member of the special teams squad and as a reserve on the defensive line ... Experienced action in 10 games as a true freshman ... Did not play in season-opener at West Virginia ... Tallied four solo tackles, all coming during special teams play ... Logged a personal-best two stops against Army during ECU[apos]s win at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium ... Added single hits against Cincinnati and N.C. State in the season finale at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

High School: An All-Central Florida selection as a senior team captain after logging 98 tackles and eight sacks ... A three-time all-district and All-Space Coast Conference standout ... Chosen to the All-Brevard County (first-team) squad by the Orlando Sentinel ... Selected to the East-West All-Star roster as a senior ... Tallied 84 stops and five sacks as a junior after contributing 72 tackles and nine sacks during sophomore campaign ... Helped lead Bulldogs to district title with 8-2 record ... Picked up a total of four football letters and a letter each in wrestling, track and baseball ... Prep power numbers include a bench-press of 325, a squat-lift of 405 and a dead-lift of 450 ... Also timed at 4.7 in the 40.

Personal: Full name is Zachary Todd Slate ... Born January 7, 1985 at Melbourne, Fla. ... A construction management major ... Both brothers compete in sports at the collegiate level - Matt (baseball at Florida Institute of Technology), Sam (football at Carson-Newman) ... Hobbies include offshore fishing, cars, drawing, music, body-boarding, skeet shooting and swimming.