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Zach Fortier: 2024 Pro Prospect Interview

The Gridiron Crew

Name: Zach Fortier
School: North Central College 
Position: Offensive Tackle
Height: 6-7
Weight: 305

Q: What goals did you set and/or accomplish in your final collegiate season?

One goal I accomplished was being selected as an All-Conference player. I was fortunate enough to accomplish this goal and was named 2nd Team All-CCIW. Another goal I accomplished was competing for a National Championship.

Q: What would your coaches and teammates say about the type of player you are?

I would say my coaches and teammates would say I am a great teammate first, and an excellent player second. I pride myself on doing whatever is in the best interest of the team.

Q: When you are studying film, what are the things you focus on to improve your game?

When looking back at practice or game film of myself, the first and most important thing I look at is my first step. As an O-Lineman this is critical to my success on each play.

Q: What separates you from the other pro prospects at your position?

What separates me from other prospects at my position is my football career/experience. I only played in 1 game of Varsity High School Football. I was blessed to receive an opportunity to play football at North Central and have grown to love the game. I truly believe my best days of playing football are still ahead of me, and I have so much room to grow.

Q: What is your offseason plan to train and prepare for professional opportunities?

I will continue to do Pro Day training while increasing explosiveness through Major Sports Performance with Jordan Westerkamp in Wheaton, Illinois. I also will train with Coach Sabo from FIST Football Academy in Saint Charles, Illinois for position specific training. Coach Logan from Training in the Trenches will also help with my preparation.

Q: What kind of strengths and abilities will you bring to a team that will stand out both on and off the field?

One main thing that makes me stand out both on and off the field is my size. Whenever I meet a new person, their first question is almost always, “How tall are you?”. I also pride myself on being patient and level headed. I think it is very important to have patience and keep a level head in order to perform at my best, whether that be on the football field, at home, school, work or in the community.

Q: What is your final pitch to the NFL and any other pro leagues?

When I started college, I only had one game of varsity football experience. With very little football experience, but being a lifelong athlete, I came in ready to learn, and learned a lot quick. My college career was amazing, losing only 3 games. Starting out on scout team in 2019 helped me tremendously to learn the speed of the game and work on my technique. My coaches told me to put on weight because I came in tall and skinny (6’6 240 pounds). By the next season I was up 30 pounds to 270 and ready to play. 2021 was an amazing learning experience for me. I gained a ton of playing experience I did not have before and really started to understand the game of football. Since then, I continued to grow into the player I am today. I am confident in my ability to grow into an elite Offensive Tackle at the professional level. I truly believe the sky is the limit for me, and I have an extreme amount of potential. I would be honored to bring my talents to any team that takes a chance on a big kid from a small school.

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