Developmental UAB linebacker with SEC-caliber background and room to pop
Jax Van Zandt is a 6-foot-1, 230-pound redshirt junior linebacker for UAB who brings a sturdy frame, in-state pedigree, and developmental upside to the Blazers’ front seven. In 2024, he appeared in 9 games and was credited with 4 total tackles for UAB, while a local report noted head coach Trent Dilfer viewed Van Zandt as one of the developmental linebackers the staff wanted to accelerate. He played at Thompson High in Alabama, a powerhouse program, which adds some hard-nosed, winning-program DNA. In short: he looks like a depth piece with enough football savvy and toughness to grow into a useful rotation defender.
