re: Saints take Zach baun

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4. ZACK BAUN | Wisconsin 6023 | 238 lbs. | rSR. Brown Deer, Wis. (Brown Deer) 12/30/1996 (age 23.31) #56
BACKGROUND: Zack Baun (BONN) played mostly soccer and basketball growing up before picking up football in the sixth grade. He started his high school career at West Bend East where he spent his freshman and sophomore years, moving to Brown Deer in 2013 to live with his mother, brother and sister. Although he was planning to play wide receiver (hadn’t played quarterback since the seventh grade), Brown Deer needed a quarterback and the coaches looked to Baun, who was one of the team’s best athletes. As a junior and senior, he combined for 3,923 rushing yards, 3,061 passing yards and 94 total touchdowns, rewriting the school record books. Baun, who also played defensive end on defense, was a two-time team captain and team MVP, earning the 2014 Dave Krieg state quarterback of the year award as the only player in Wisconsin to rush for 2,000-plus yards and throw for 1,000-plus yards. He was also a starter on Brown Deer’s 2014 Division III state championship in basketball and was a state qualifier in track, running the 100 meters (10.91 personal best), 200 meters (21.53), 4x100 relay and jumps.
A three-star athlete recruit, Baun was considered the No. 4 recruit in Wisconsin and received attention from FBS programs like Minnesota and Indiana, but FCS-level South Dakota State was his lone offer. Wisconsin’s interest in the in-state star picked up during his senior year and Gary Anderson’s staff offered him a grayshirt opportunity as a linebacker, which he accepted. However, Baun was later elevated to a full member of the 2015 recruiting class once current head coach Paul Chryst was hired shortly before signing day. He accepted his invitation to the 2020 Senior Bowl.

YEAR (GP/GS) TKLS TFL SACK FF PD INT NOTES
2015: Redshirted
2016: (12/0) 15 3.0 0.0 1 0 0
2017: Missed the season due to a foot injury
2018: (13/13) 63 7.5 2.5 0 3 1
2019: (14/14) 76 19.5 12.5 2 3 1 Consensus First team All-American; First team All-Big Ten
Total: (39/27) 154 30.0 15.0 3 6 2
HT WT ARM HAND WING 40-YD 20-YD 10-YD VJ BJ SS 3C BP
COMBINE 6023 238 32 3/4 09 5/8 78 1/4 4.65 2.74 1.65 32 1/2 09’07” 4.31 7.00 24
PRO DAY - - - - - 4.20 - - (stood on combine runs, jumps, 3-cone)
STRENGTHS: Explosive athlete with the twitch to trigger and go…relentless rusher, using various hand moves to work off contact and squeeze through gaps…unwinds from blocks to find the ball carrier…excellent snap anticipation to get a head start…doesn’t look out of place turning and running with skill players downfield…takes his leverage responsibilities seriously, shutting down outside runs…smart player and doesn’t make undisciplined mistakes…gap sound, allowing play callers to blitz
him from anywhere across the formation…productive senior season, finishing second in the Big Ten in sacks (12.5) and tackles for loss (19.5) behind only Chase Young (most single-season sacks in Wisconsin history since 1998).
WEAKNESSES: Quick upfield, but cornering skills are inconsistent, often finding himself past the pocket…lack of ideal size and length show vs. trench players…too easily slowed once engulfed…needs to better convert his speed to power and put blockers on their heels…skillfully jumps the snap, but will be caught early and called
for offsides…needs to improve his breakdown skills to be a more reliable tackler (double-digit missed tackles in 2019)…downfield coverage skills are immature, struggling to find the football prior to making contact.

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