Nick Zuniga (2022) - North Texas Athletics Hall of Fame - University of North Texas Athletics

Nick Zuniga

Induction:
2022
Class:
2003

Nick Zuniga was a four-year letterman and four-year starter on the offensive line for North Texas in one of the most successful eras in program history. From 2000-03, Zuniga started 48 career games, which was the second-most career starts in UNT history when he finished his career. Zuniga is one of six players in North Texas football history to be a four-time all-conference honoree, earning second team all-conference as a true freshman in 2000 and then being named to the Sun Belt Conference first-team his final three years. He was the first offensive lineman in North Texas history to block for three straight 1,000-yard rushers, Kevin Galbreath in 2001 and 2002 and Patrick Cobbs in 2003. Zuniga was a big part of the success of Cobbs, who led the nation in rushing with an average of 157.0 yards per game in 2003. He helped lead his team to three straight New Orleans Bowl appearances from 2001-03, becoming one of only five players to start in all three of those games. Zuniga was voted a team captain by his teammates as a junior and senior and was the only unanimous first team all-conference honoree voted on by every Sun Belt Conference coach in those two seasons. Allowed only one sack as a starter during his true freshman season and then didn’t allow another sack the remainder of his career. He was elected to play in the postseason Las Vegas All-American Classic All-Star game following his senior season.