Early years

Zeitler was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He attended Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and played for Wisconsin Lutheran Vikings high school football team. A three-year letterwinner in football, Zeitler was honored first-team all-conference, first-team all region and second-team all-area as a junior. In his senior year, he gathered first-team all-conference, conference lineman of the year, first-team all region and first-team all-area honors.

Regarded as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Zeitler was ranked the No. 39 offensive guard prospect in his class. Coincidentally, the No. 1 offensive guard in this class was Trevor Robinson, who would later play alongside Zeitler for the Cincinnati Bengals. Having numerous offers, Zeitler narrowed his decision down to Wisconsin and Michigan, before eventually picking the Badgers.

College career

Zeitler attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and played for the Wisconsin Badgers football team from 2008 to 2011. He was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American, having been named to the first teams of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), the Associated Press and Pro Football Weekly as a senior in 2011. Zeitler joined teammates Montee Ball and Peter Konz as AFCA All-Americans.

Professional career

2012 NFL Draft

Even though "not a nifty or nimble lineman", Zeitler was described as "a solid prospect with the ability to be used in a power running offense." Projected to be a second round selection, Zeitler was ranked No. 4 among guards available in the 2012 NFL Draft by Sports Illustrated. Zeitler himself expected to be a second-rounder, having scheduled a draft-party for Day 2 of the Draft, before being surprised by the Bengals' late first-round selection. Zeitler was the eighth UW offensive lineman taken in the first round of an NFL draft since 1976, after Dennis Lick, Ray Snell, Paul Gruber, Aaron Gibson, Chris McIntosh, Joe Thomas, and Gabe Carimi.

Pre-draft measurables

Ht	Wt	Arm length	Hand size	40-yd dash	10-yd split	20-yd split	20-ss	3-cone	Vert	Broad	BP
6 ft 3 7⁄8 in	314 lb	32 3⁄4 in	10 1⁄4 in	5.39 s			4.61 s	7.77 s	29 in	8 ft 5 in	32 reps

Cincinnati Bengals

In his rookie season, Zeitler started all 16 games at right guard for the Bengals. He gave up only four sacks all season, and graded highest among Bengals linemen.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]