Junior nose guard Payton Zdroik named to 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
7/18/2024 10:22:00 AM | Football
Air Force junior nose guard Payton Zdroik has been named to the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List, the organization announced.
The list is comprised of all-star game eligible college football players throughout college football. Zdroik recorded 32 total tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 quarterback sacks last season. He is the top returner for the Falcons in TFLs and sacks.
Air Force finished 9-4 overall last season, including a 5-3 mark in Mountain West games. The Falcons closed the season with a 31-21 victory over #24/25 James Madison in the Armed Forces Bowl to record a fifth straight bowl victory. Air Force was picked fourth in the Mountain West preseason media poll, released earlier this summer.
For more information on the East Club presented by L3Harris and to purchase tickets, click HERE.
To purchase East Club Tickets click HERE.
The Falcon Athletic Fund is hosting public tours ahead of the 2024 football season. Click HERE to RSVP for an early access look at the new East Club presented by L3Harris.
96 Payton Zdroik, DL
6-0, 275, Jr., Brentwood, CA (Liberty)
2023 – Played in 10 games, eight starts … three straight games with a tackle for loss … two tackles for loss, a sack and a quarterback hurry vs. James Madison in the bowl game … one tackle and a TFL at Boise State … three tackles and a sack vs. UNLV … matched his career high with six tackles at Navy, also had a sack … four tackles, 1.5 TFL and a sack vs. Wyoming … career-high six tackles and a sack vs. Sam Houston … preseason all-MW selection … Group of 5 preseason All-American by HERO … received a medical turnback in the spring and returned to the Academy this fall.
2022 – Played in 13 games, starting 10 … second on the team in TFL with 10.0 for 47 yards and sacks with 5.5 for 37 yards … led all DL with 30 total tackles … seven straight games with a TFL … career highs of four tackles and 2.0 TFL vs. Baylor in the bowl game … two tackles, 1.5 TFL, forced fumble and QBH at SDSU … three tackles and a career-best 2.0 sacks for 13 yards vs. Colorado State ... also had a QB hurry … two tackles and a sack vs. New Mexico … career-high five tackles and 0.5 sacks vs. Army … three tackles and a TFL vs. Boise State … two tackles and a TFL at UNLV … recorded a QB hurry vs. Navy … three tackles at Wyoming … two tackles and a sack vs. Colorado … played in the first game of his career, making first-career start vs. UNI, and recorded two tackles, one unassisted.
2021 – Did not see any action.
High School – Lettered in football and baseball ... three-time first-team all-league selection on offense and defense in football ... all-state honors three years ... earned All-America honors ... helped team to the state championship as a junior ... football coach was Ryan Partridge.
Personal – Parents are Daniel Zdroik and Kelly Fedel ... both parents are Air Force Academy graduates ... his father played football and his mother was a swimmer ... has an older sister ... majoring in business management ... attended the Air Force Academy Prep School and played football.
Career Highs
UT:........ 5, Sam Houston, 2023
AT:......... 4, Navy, 2023
TOT:....... 6, Navy, 2023
TFL:........ 2.0, Baylor, 2022
Career Statistics
Tackles
Year G U-A-T TFL Sacks
2023 7 14-15-29 4.0-22 3.5-21
2022 13 18-12-30 10.0-47 5.5-37
Total 20 32-27-59 14.0-69 9.0-58
The list is comprised of all-star game eligible college football players throughout college football. Zdroik recorded 32 total tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 quarterback sacks last season. He is the top returner for the Falcons in TFLs and sacks.
Air Force finished 9-4 overall last season, including a 5-3 mark in Mountain West games. The Falcons closed the season with a 31-21 victory over #24/25 James Madison in the Armed Forces Bowl to record a fifth straight bowl victory. Air Force was picked fourth in the Mountain West preseason media poll, released earlier this summer.
For more information on the East Club presented by L3Harris and to purchase tickets, click HERE.
To purchase East Club Tickets click HERE.
The Falcon Athletic Fund is hosting public tours ahead of the 2024 football season. Click HERE to RSVP for an early access look at the new East Club presented by L3Harris.
96 Payton Zdroik, DL
6-0, 275, Jr., Brentwood, CA (Liberty)
2023 – Played in 10 games, eight starts … three straight games with a tackle for loss … two tackles for loss, a sack and a quarterback hurry vs. James Madison in the bowl game … one tackle and a TFL at Boise State … three tackles and a sack vs. UNLV … matched his career high with six tackles at Navy, also had a sack … four tackles, 1.5 TFL and a sack vs. Wyoming … career-high six tackles and a sack vs. Sam Houston … preseason all-MW selection … Group of 5 preseason All-American by HERO … received a medical turnback in the spring and returned to the Academy this fall.
2022 – Played in 13 games, starting 10 … second on the team in TFL with 10.0 for 47 yards and sacks with 5.5 for 37 yards … led all DL with 30 total tackles … seven straight games with a TFL … career highs of four tackles and 2.0 TFL vs. Baylor in the bowl game … two tackles, 1.5 TFL, forced fumble and QBH at SDSU … three tackles and a career-best 2.0 sacks for 13 yards vs. Colorado State ... also had a QB hurry … two tackles and a sack vs. New Mexico … career-high five tackles and 0.5 sacks vs. Army … three tackles and a TFL vs. Boise State … two tackles and a TFL at UNLV … recorded a QB hurry vs. Navy … three tackles at Wyoming … two tackles and a sack vs. Colorado … played in the first game of his career, making first-career start vs. UNI, and recorded two tackles, one unassisted.
2021 – Did not see any action.
High School – Lettered in football and baseball ... three-time first-team all-league selection on offense and defense in football ... all-state honors three years ... earned All-America honors ... helped team to the state championship as a junior ... football coach was Ryan Partridge.
Personal – Parents are Daniel Zdroik and Kelly Fedel ... both parents are Air Force Academy graduates ... his father played football and his mother was a swimmer ... has an older sister ... majoring in business management ... attended the Air Force Academy Prep School and played football.
Career Highs
UT:........ 5, Sam Houston, 2023
AT:......... 4, Navy, 2023
TOT:....... 6, Navy, 2023
TFL:........ 2.0, Baylor, 2022
Career Statistics
Tackles
Year G U-A-T TFL Sacks
2023 7 14-15-29 4.0-22 3.5-21
2022 13 18-12-30 10.0-47 5.5-37
Total 20 32-27-59 14.0-69 9.0-58
Players Mentioned
DL
/ FootballAir Force vs. Bucknell - All Falcon Touchdowns
Monday, December 29
Falcons take care of Colorado State in Fort Collins
Monday, December 01
Troy Calhoun and Players Interview post Colorado State
Friday, November 28
Football Press Conference - November 25th, 2025
Tuesday, November 25
