When Trey Zuhn III blew out his knee just before his senior season at Fossil Ridge, the doubts started percolating.
Zuhn, Fossil Ridge’s mammoth left tackle, was Colorado’s top-ranked high school prospect . But as he was relegated to the Sabercats’ sideline as a senior, his recent transformation into a NFL draft prospect this spring seemed a long way off.
“My immediate thoughts were centered on not being able to play my senior season, and also if Texas A&M was still going to honor my scholarship,” Zuhn said. “They did, and I got to A&M early (after graduating in December) and rehabbed it there.
“That whole spring I really focused on learning the playbook and spent a lot of time in the O-line room. Then my first or second practice back in that first fall camp (in 2021), I realized I could trust my knee, and it felt fine. From then on, it was, ‘Let’s go.’ I haven’t looked back since.”
Zuhn redshirted as a freshman at Texas A&M, then emerged as over the last four seasons. He was a four-year starter at left tackle, and after earning third-team All-SEC recognition in 2024, he shared the Jacobs Blocking Trophy for the top SEC offensive lineman with Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor in ’25.
The 23-year-old is projected to be a Day 2 or Day 3 pick in this week’s NFL draft, and Zuhn believes he showed his versatility in his final season in College Station. The two-year Texas A&M captain saw time at center in many games last fall, including two starts there. He also played guard in practice and is comfortable in all five spots on the line.
“I flirted with coming out for the draft last year, but then I kept hearing about my short arms from everybody, so I wanted to get some tape playing the interior O-line,” Zuhn said. “Whatever team picks me, I’m just going to go in and show my versatility and be able to play all five positions at the highest level so I can get on the field as quickly as possible.”
The 6-foot-6, 312-pounder met with almost every NFL team leading into the draft. A sprained ankle at the Senior Bowl kept Zuhn from fully participating in the combine, where his ranked second among all centers.
Some teams see Zuhn as a tackle who can play center and guard, while others see him as an interior lineman who can play tackle in a pinch. He was especially solid against the pass for the Aggies, earning a 96.8 pass-blocking grade in ’25 after allowing only two sacks all season.
Whatever happens this week, Zuhn is hungry to show how his versatility will translate to the pros. Another Fossil Ridge alum, Seahawks fullback/special teamer won the Super Bowl with Seattle in February. Russell, however, went undrafted out of CU.
“To be in a position to be drafted is above and beyond any dreams and goals I had as a kid, so it’s definitely a cool feeling,” Zuhn said. “(In regards to the Jacobs Blocking Trophy), awards and accolades breeds complacency, because you think you’ve made it, but you really have a bunch more work to do. That’s my mindset going into the league.”
