*** Honors Candidate***

2014: Listed as the starter at defensive tackleon the preseason depth chart. He was one six Eagles selected to thepreseason All-Big Sky Conference team as selected by a panel of theleague’s media representatives. During a pre-practiceinterview leading up to EWU’s FCS Playoff game on Dec. 7,2013, versus South Dakota State in the coldest game in schoolhistory (12 degrees at kickoff), he fittingly used the phrase“embrace the suck.” 2013: Earnedhonorable mention All-Big Sky honors. Played in all 15 games as anose tackle, including one starting assignment versus Idaho State(11/2/13). He finished the season with 42 tackles, including 1 1/2sacks and six total tackles for loss. He also had a trio ofquarterback hurries. Zylstra had a season-high six tackles versusMontana (10/26/13), and five tackles each in the final two games ofthe season against Jacksonville State (12/14/13) and Towson(12/21/13). He had a sack and three total tackles at North Dakota(10/12/13). His five tackle effort versus Portland State (11/23/13)earned him team defensive player of the week honors. He also earnedEWU’s special teams player of the week award against theGrizzlies. Prior to the season, he ranked 26th on the preseason FCSdefensive tackle rankings as selected by Josh Buchanan atphilsteele.com.

2012: Earned honorable mention All-Big Skyhonors. Made the first and only start of his career thus far versusSouthern Utah (10/27/12) and finished with three tackles and ahalf-sack. He played a big role in Eastern’s unconventional,27-24 come-from-behind victory over second-ranked Montana State(10/13/12) to earn team special teams player of the week honors.The Bobcats out-gained EWU 375-211, but EWU managed to take thelead for good on a blocked punt by Zylstra that was recovered for atouchdown by Evan Day. Just 59 seconds later, an interception byJordan Tonani was returned 21 yards for a touchdown to give EWU a10-point advantage it didn’t surrender. He had a season-highsix tackles against Cal Poly (11/3/12) and one game later had fourversus UC Davis (11/10/12). In the spring, he was selected asEastern’s co-most improved defensive player. Zylstra andteammate Ashton Boothroyd were recognized by EWU and the Big SkyConference for their role in rescuing a kayaker, who had falleninto Long Lake, northwest of Spokane, Wash., on May 31, 2012. Thetwo were fishing when they saw the man struggling, and yelling forhelp. They were able to borrow a row boat and Zylstra pulled theman from the frigid waters.

2011: Zylstra played sparingly as a redshirtfreshman in 2011, but finished with 11 tackles and a quarterbackhurry. Seven of his tackles came versus Portland State(10/29/11).

2010: Redshirted. Was selected asEastern’s Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year. Wasselected as the team’s defensive scout team player of theweek twice.

HS: Graduated from Kentridge HS in 2010. Earnedhonorable mention 4A All-State honors as a linebacker from theAssociated Press. Named by the Seattle Times as a“White Chip” selection as one of the top 100 prospectsin the state of Washington. Was selected to the SeattleTimes “Star Times” All-Area team as a defensiveend/linebacker. He was the South Puget Sound League North DivisionDefensive Back of the Year and earned first team all-league honorsas a linebacker. He had 67 tackles as a senior with 5 1/2 sacks, 131/2 total tackles for loss, four blocked kicks and two passesbroken up. He helped Kentridge to a 6-4 record overall, including a6-2 league mark. He also played basketball for three years atKentridge, and averaged 11.5 points as a senior to earn honorablemention All-SPSL North Division honors for the second-straightseason. He helped lead Kentridge to third place in the 2009 State4A Tournament and a final record of 20-9.

Personal: Management major. Born 10/11/91 inRenton, Wash. Will turn 23 the day Eastern plays at Southern Utah.Parents are Douglas and Belinda Zylstra. Name is pronounced“zill-struh.”