Early years

Zellner attended Mary Persons High School in Forsyth, Georgia and was a student and a letterman in football and basketball. In football, he was an All-Area selection and an All-District selection, and Prep Football Report named him as an All-Dixie selection. After his senior season, he participated in the Florida-Georgia All-Star Game. In basketball, he was an All-Area selection.

Although he received a scholarship from the University of Georgia, academic problems forced him to join Georgia Military College. He later transferred to Fort Valley State University, but eligibility problems limited him to playing in only 3 football games in 1996. The next year he focused on basketball, averaging 10.1 points and 9.3 rebounds as a starter, while helping the school win its first conference championship since 1969.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys were impressed by Zellner's performance in the scouting combine (second fastest 40-yard dash time, first in the broad jump and first in the 20-yard dash among defensive linemen), selecting him in the fourth round (132nd overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft.

On November 27, 2000, he was placed on the injured reserve list after tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament during a practice.

A season ending injury to Ebenezer Ekuban, allowed him to start 15 games at right defensive end in 2001, setting career-highs with 46 tackles and three sacks. In 2002, he only started 2 games and registered 29 tackles. At the end of the season, the Cowboys didn't make an effort to re-sign him.

Washington Redskins

On May 12, 2003, he was signed as a free agent by the Washington Redskins to a one-year contract. He recorded 14 tackles and one sack during the season.

Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders signed him as a free agent in 2004, but in less than a month he was traded to the Arizona Cardinals along with Troy Hambrick, in exchange for a sixth round draft choice in the 2005 NFL Draft.

Arizona Cardinals

Zellner replaced an injured Fred Wakefield, playing in all 16 games in 2004 and registering 35 tackles and 2 sacks. He was re-signed at the end of the year, only to be released on August 29, 2005.

Personal life

In 2002, Zellner was charged with drug possession, however, the charges were later dropped. He is a cousin of safety Tra Battle who also played for the Dallas Cowboys.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]