Wyomissing’s Pacen Ziegler is Diamond Credit Union Lineman of the Week
Diamond Credit Union Lineman of the Week
When Penn State coach James Franklin dropped by to watch Wyomissing play Cocalico last month it was presumably as a courtesy visit for Jven Williams, his prized offensive line recruit.
Actually the Nittany Lions coach wanted to check out another Spartans lineman he had heard about. He was immediately impressed with the way the powerful 6-4, 275-pound linemen moved across the field.
It wasn’t until later that Franklin learned he was watching senior tackle Pacen Ziegler and not Caleb Brewer, the 6-5, 275-pound lineman whom he was told about previously.
No matter. Franklin had offensive line coach Phil Trautwein, who was along on the visit, extend a preferred walk-on offer to Ziegler.
“It was unexpected,” Ziegler said of the offer.
What hasn’t been unexpected is Ziegler’s dominance on the line this season.
The senior continued his two-way assault on the opposition Saturday against Hamburg when he recorded six tackles and four hurries as the Spartans shut down one of the highest-scoring offenses in District 3 in a 49-14 win.
Ziegler was also dominant from his spot at offensive tackle, where he was credited with three pancake blocks. There performance was more than enough to earn Diamond Credit Union Lineman of the Week honors.
Williams was swarmed with Division I offers a few weeks into his junior season. No one noticed Ziegler until the postseason. He injured his ankle in the summer, hobbled through training camp, then further injured it in the Spartans’ first scrimmage.
Initital tests in early August didn’t detect anything serious; it was discovered until just a few days before the season opener that he had suffered a stress fracture in his ankle.
“That was really frustrating, knowing something was wrong and having everyone was telling me it was OK,” he said.
Ziegler got back on the field late in the regular season but didn’t return to near full speed until after the playoffs began. That’s when he was able to put together film clips that displayed his ability. Ross Tucker of gobigcruiting.com had the highlights evaluated by college coaches and they — like Franklin — liked what they saw.
“After my junior year I didn’t think I was good enough (to play college football),” Ziegler said. “Then I realized I have the size, I have the footwork. Since then I’ve been working pretty hard since to get recruited.”
Ziegler also has offers from Davidson and Lock Haven and has gotten interest from Cornell, Fordham, Duquesne and others.
Ziegler is the third Wyomissing player to earn Lineman of the Week honors this season, along with Jack Gartner and Williams.
Players considered for Player of the Week honors are nominated by their coaches or by members of the MikeDragoSports.com coverage team.
Also nominated for Diamond Credit Union Lineman of the Week:
- Jackson Haas, Berks Catholic
- Owen Hause, Hamburg
- Charles Sheppard, Hamburg
- Jayden Gulley, Schuylkill Valley
- Sabier Mateo, Schuylkill Valley
Selected earlier this season:
- Week 1: Lucas Palange, G, Exeter
- Week 2: Jack Gartner, G, Wyomissing
- Week 3: Jven Williams, G/DT, Wyomissing
- Week 4: Anthony Caccese, T/T, Exeter
- Week 5: Charles Sheppard, T/T Hamburg
- Week 6: Jackson Haas, G, Berks Catholic
- Week 7: Tyler Hallock, T/T, Kutztown
- Week 8: Anthony Caccese, T/T, Exeter
- Week 9: Kyle Lash, G/T, Exeter
- Week 10: Kyle Lash, G/T, Exeter
- Week 11: Berks Catholic, G, Owen Reber
Selected for Diamond Credit Union Lineman of the Week last season:
- Week 1: Tyler Hallock, T, Kutztown
- Week 2: Lucas Palange, G, Exeter
- Week 3: Colin Leahy, T, Daniel Boone
- Week 4: Josh Pazdrick, TE, Conrad Weiser
- Week 5: Nate Goodman, Gov. Mifflin
- Week 6: Jven Williams, G, Wyomissing
- Week 7: Kyle Pry, T, Boyertown
- Week 8: Lucas Palange, G, Exeter
- Week 9: Jon Ramsey, G, Wilson
- Week 10: Jack Durning, C, Wilson
- Week 11: Dominic Memmo, DT, Wilson
- Week 12: Kyle Lash, T, Exeter
- Week 13: Anthony Caccese, T, Exeter
- Week 14: Jven Williams, G, Wyomissing
