Zach VanValkenburg Bio
Zach VanValkenburg (born February 17, 1998) is an American professional football linebacker. He played college football at Hillsdale College before transferring to the University of Iowa and was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2022. Standing 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) and listed at 260 lb (118 kg), he has lined up at both linebacker and defensive end during his career.
After brief stops with the Raiders and the Los Angeles Rams practice squad, VanValkenburg made his NFL regular-season debut in 2023 with the Rams. His professional journey has taken him from Zeeland, Michigan, to the highest level of American football.
Early Life and Background
Zach VanValkenburg was born on February 17, 1998, in Zeeland, Michigan. He grew up in the same West Michigan community where he would later become a celebrated high school athlete, attending Zeeland West High School. He played three seasons as a linebacker and defensive end for the school, developing the versatility that would later define his college career.
As a junior, VanValkenburg earned all-conference honors, and as a senior, he served as team captain. In that final season, he recorded 85 tackles and was named first-team all-state, all-conference, and Holland Sentinel Defensive Player of the Year, while also being selected to the Detroit Free Press Dream Team. Beyond football, he was a four-year letterman in wrestling, earning all-state recognition, and competed in four seasons of track and field, reflecting his well-rounded athletic background.
Path to American Football
VanValkenburg declined offers from Holy Cross and Air Force to attend Hillsdale College, where he began his college career in 2016. After suffering an injury early in his true freshman season, he chose to redshirt and preserve a year of eligibility. He returned the following season and earned Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Defensive Lineman of the Year honors in 2018 after posting 70 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles.
Following the 2018 season, VanValkenburg graduated with a degree in history and decided to transfer to a Football Bowl Subdivision program. He had emailed coaches across the country, but only two programs responded, with the Iowa Hawkeyes offering a path forward. He joined the Iowa football team as a walk-on without a scholarship, beginning a two-year ascent that would transform him into a Big Ten standout.
Zach VanValkenburg Career
Early Career (2019)
VanValkenburg spent the 2019 season as a backup at Iowa, learning behind future NFL players A. J. Epenesa and Chauncey Golston. He appeared in 11 games and recorded six tackles, gaining valuable experience within one of the Big Ten’s top defensive programs. The season was a foundation year that allowed him to adjust to the speed and complexity of FBS football.
Although listed as a backup to John Waggoner entering the 2020 season, VanValkenburg became a starter after Waggoner’s injury in the first week. He started all eight games in a COVID-19-shortened season, finishing with 30 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, four fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble. His fumble recovery total tied for first nationally, and he earned second-team All-Big Ten Conference recognition from the league’s coaches and a fourth-team nod from Phil Steele.
Iowa Breakthrough (2020–2021)
The 2020 campaign was supposed to be VanValkenburg’s final college season, but an extra year of eligibility granted because of the COVID-19 pandemic allowed him to return for 2021. He started all 14 games that season, recording 58 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, and 15 tackles for loss. The performance earned him the Hayden Fry Award as Iowa’s defensive most valuable player, second-team All-Big Ten honors from both the conference coaches and the Associated Press, a third-team selection from Phil Steele, and a quarterfinalist nod for the Lott Trophy.
Across his six collegiate seasons, VanValkenburg appeared in 60 games with 48 starts, totaling 211 tackles, 42.5 tackles for loss, 22 sacks, and five forced fumbles. He left Iowa with a master’s degree in Eastern European Studies, completing a remarkable academic and athletic journey from a walk-on transfer to a two-time All-Big Ten selection in 2020 and 2021.
Los Angeles Rams Era (2022–2024)
After going unselected in the 2022 NFL draft, VanValkenburg was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent. He was waived at the final roster cuts on August 30, 2022, and spent brief stints on practice squads before being signed to the Los Angeles Rams practice squad on September 20, 2022. He signed a reserve/futures contract with the Rams on January 9, 2023, and made the final roster out of training camp that year.
VanValkenburg made his NFL debut in Week 1 of the 2023 season against the Seattle Seahawks, recording tackles and a sack during limited action. He was waived on November 14, 2023, and re-signed to the practice squad, later signing another reserve/future contract on January 15, 2024. He was waived by the Rams on August 27, 2024, and re-signed to the practice squad, before being released on October 25, 2024.
Notable Events and Milestones
VanValkenburg’s NFL debut against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1 of the 2023 season marked the culmination of a long journey from undrafted free agent to active roster player. He finished the 2023 season with 9 total tackles and 1 sack in his limited appearances, showing flashes of the pass-rushing ability that defined his Iowa career. He remains a two-time All-Big Ten Conference honoree from 2020 and 2021.
Zach VanValkenburg Career Highlights
College Highlights
VanValkenburg’s college career featured steady progression from a redshirting freshman at Hillsdale College to a two-time All-Big Ten Conference honoree at the University of Iowa. He earned G-MAC Defensive Lineman of the Year honors in 2018, second-team All-Big Ten recognition in 2020, and another second-team All-Big Ten selection in 2021. He also received the Hayden Fry Award as Iowa’s defensive most valuable player in 2021 and was a quarterfinalist for the Lott Trophy that same year.
Zach VanValkenburg Family
Personal Life
VanValkenburg was born and raised in Zeeland, Michigan, the same community where he built his early football foundation at Zeeland West High School. He earned both an undergraduate degree in history from Hillsdale College and a master’s degree in Eastern European Studies from the University of Iowa, reflecting a strong commitment to academics alongside his athletic pursuits.
2025 Season Outlook
Heading into 2025, VanValkenburg’s contract tenure with the Los Angeles Rams concluded following the 2024 season, leaving his next professional home to be determined. He continues to pursue an NFL career after contributing on defense during the 2023 season. His experience at both linebacker and defensive end gives him the kind of positional flexibility that teams value on practice squads and depth charts.
As an undrafted player with Big Ten credentials and NFL regular-season experience, VanValkenburg remains a viable depth option entering the 2025 league year. His ability to play on the edge and contribute on special teams should keep him in consideration for opportunities across the league as rosters take shape.