Hunter Zirkle

Position:
Defensive Lineman
Height:
6-3
Weight:
230
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Arcadia, Fla.
High School:
Booker H.S.
Previous School:
Cumberlands
Twitter:
@hunterzirkle11
Instagram:
@ziirkkk

Transferred to Central Michigan from the University of Cumberlands … Enrolled at Central Michigan in January 2026.

CAREER

In two years at the University of Cumberlands, made 73 tackles (36 solo), 23.5 tackles for loss for 108 yards, 13.5 sacks for 84 yards, five forced fumbles, three pass breakups, and two blocked kicks in 17 games …

2025 AT UNIVERSITY OF CUMBERLANDS

As a sophomore, played in 10 games at linebacker … Earned NAIA/AFCA/Walter Camp First Team All-American honors … Named a First Team All-American by AFCS … First-Team All-Mid South Conference honoree … Finished the season with 50 total tackles, including 16.0 tackles for loss and 10.0 sacks, five forced fumbles, 13 quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, and two blocked kicks … Set the program’s single-game record with three forced fumbles against Campbellsville (KY) … Had three sacks in a game two different times … Led the Mid-South Conference in sacks (10), tackles for loss (16), and blocked kicks (two) … Posted a season-high seven tackles at Cumberland (TN) … Recorded a season-high three sacks against Faulkner (AL) and Campbellsville (KY) … Ranked among the team’s top defensive playmakers with 13 quarterback hurries and multiple pass breakups while blocking two kicks as well.

2024 AT UNIVERSITY OF CUMBERLANDS

As a true freshman, played in six games … Recorded 23 yards, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks … Finished with six tackles and 2.5 TFL (2 sacks) against Bluefield … Finished with 1.5 tackles for loss against Pikeville and Faulkner and 2.0 against Union Commonwealth.

HIGH SCHOOL

A June 2024 graduate of Booker High School in Sarasota, Fla., where he played one year of varsity football for head coach Scott Littles … Two-time Florida Class All-State honoree (Class 2S as a junior) … Two-time Sarasota All-Area honoree …. Named a Sarasota Sun Preps Defensive Player of the Year finalist as a junior … Named a Rising Stars All-Star Florida selection … Played defensive end, outside linebacker, and tight end … In three-year varsity career, made 155 total tackles (101 solo), 42.5 tackles for loss, 23.5 sacks, 36 quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, seven fumble recoveries, and five forced fumbles on defense, rushed 14 times for 123 yards and a touchdown, five receptions for 127 yards and two touchdowns on offense in 28 career games …. Finished with 36 tackles (22 solo), 12.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 15 quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery as a senior at Booker … Led the Tornadoes to a 9-5 overall record, 2-1 district record and Class 2S state playoff appearance as a senior … Had six tackles, three quarterback hurries vs. Cocoa … Made seven tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, and three quarterback hurries vs. Lemon Bay … Had 1.5 sacks vs. LRHS … Played his first two seasons at DeSoto County High School for head coach Sam Holland … For the Bulldogs as a junior, made 98 tackles (61 solo), 24.0 tackles for loss, 15.5 sacks, 21 quarterback hurries, five fumble recoveries, and three forced fumbles in 11 games … Led the Bulldogs to a 7-4 overall record, 2-1 league record, district title, and state playoff appearance as a junior … Had five 10-tackle games … Had 10 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack and three quarterback hurries vs. Estero … Made 13 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks vs. Osceola … Made 11 tackles (eight solo), 3.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks vs. Bayshore … Made 12 tackles (10 solo), 4.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, and four quarterback hurries vs. GC … Named Sarasota Athlete of the Week after making 12 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, and three quarterback hurries vs. George Jenkins.

PERSONAL

Born Hunter Zirkle on November 9, 2005 … Majors in Business Administration.