Luis Zendejas, born in Mexico City and one of nine children, grew up in Chino, California, where the Zendejas families began their restaurant businesses. He was a childhood and high school soccer star until a coach talked him into giving American football a try. Eventually he would go on to kick the winning field goal for his school to capture its first California Interscholastic Federation title; and, Arizona State University quickly offered him a scholarship. During a stellar collegiate career Zendejas would establish all of the Sun Devil kicking records, and ultimately set a NCAA scoring record with 368 career points. As just a junior Zendejas made Consensus First Team All-American. Luis is in the ASU Sports Hall of Fame. His prolific pro kicking career began with the newly established World Football League in 1985, and then multiple seasons with the Cowboys and Eagles in the NFL. He also had an All-Star stint for the Arena Football League's Arizona Rattlers from 1992 to 1995, and helped win an Arena Bowl in 1994. He finished his career in the Canadian Football League. Since 2001, Luis has served as the Arizona Cardinals’ Director of Community Relations. The Zendejas name is synonymous with kicking as seven Zendejas brothers and cousins kicked in the pros, colleges, and high schools in the 1980s-90s; and now a younger generation continues the family tradition. Our Top Arizona Senior Kicker has met the high standards of the Zendejas legacy. Beginning in December 2015 our NFF "Luis Zendejas" Legend Award for the TOP AZ Senior Place Kickers are:
2015 ~ "Down Town" Dylan Brown - Chandler Hamilton
2016 ~ Brandon Ruiz - Williams Field
2017 ~ Brayden Narveson - Desert Mountain
2018 ~ Austin McNamara - Highland
2019 ~ Parker Lewis - Scottsdale Saguaro Sabercats
2020 ~ Crew Peterman - Chandler Wolves
2021 ~ Grady Gross - Scottsdale Horizon Huskies, Coach Andy Litton
SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State football senior kicker Dylan Brown is a semifinalist for the prestigious National Football Foundation (NFF) William V. Campbell Trophy. The award is given to a collegiate football student-athlete with the best combination of academic success, community service and on-field performance. |
|