A nagging injury and the COVID-19 pandemic prevented Zelmar Vedder from flashing his full potential on the football field.
Sacramento State had seen enough of the 2021 East Union graduate this fall to offer him a scholarship. The Modesto Junior College cornerback will have three years of eligibility left for the NCAA Division-I program, and he officially locked in his commitment to the Hornets on Wednesday by signing a National Letter of Intent.
Vedder had multiple offers from Division-III programs while still in high school, but he believed that he has the talent to compete at higher levels with his 6-foot-3 frame and 4.41-second 40-yard dash.
“Coming out of high school I only had D-III schools looking at me, but I knew I can play bigger than that,” Vedder said. “If I had a full senior year I would be (at a D-I school) already. I was just determined to get to where I know I can be.”
What Vedder needed was a chance to show his capabilities. At East Union, he played through the knee injury during his junior year but was limited. A two-way starter, he finished with 11 receptions for 162 yards and a touchdown on offense; 16 tackles, an interception and three pass deflections on defense. He produced similar numbers in fewer games over the spring (7-166-2; seven tackles, INT). Local teams were allowed to play just five games, but positive coronavirus tests within the program formed East Union to cancel its rivalry matchup with Manteca.
Vedder’s options were to take an offer from a Division-III school or bet on himself by going to a junior college and create new avenues toward his ultimate goals. The objective is to make it to the NFL, as his father and older brother— David and Chris Vedder — did before him.
“When I started researching NFL players who came out of JUCO, I realized that it’s going to be the better route,” Vedder said. “I knew that if I go D-III, the NFL is not going to happen for me. I talked with my dad, my mom (Yolanda Dixon) and brother and we decided that was the best route for me.
“After having a great senior season, I told everybody that I’m only going to be (at MJC) for one season and it manifested.”
Vedder contributed to an MJC team that contended for a spot in the California Community College Athletic Association state playoffs. The Pirates earned a share of the Valley League title, won the Grizzly Bowl and finished 8-3 overall.
Vedder led the league with four interceptions and ended second in the state with 200 interception return yards, much of which came on a 97-yard pick-six.
“At first, it was (a struggle) for me,” Vedder said of adjusting to the college game. “But after my first game, I was like, ‘OK, I can hang with these dudes,’ and started gaining confidence in myself. Once I got more confident, I took off from there.”
Vedder appreciates his short time at MJC, calling it an “eye-opening experience” in which he “gained new brothers.” That family-like atmosphere under head coach Rusty Stivers is what he experienced with former East Union coach Willie Herrera, and Vedder saw felt much of the same during his visit at Sac State last month. He announced his commitment on Nov. 12. He also had discussions with Colorado State, Fresno State, UC Davis and Buffalo.
Sac State has thrived under third-year coach Troy Taylor, who has guided the Hornets to two Big Sky Conference titles in as many seasons. The team opted not to compete in the spring of 2021.
“The culture,” Vedder said of what lured him to Sac State. “They’re all about being a family, and that’s what really drew me to them. That’s what I had at East Union with Coach Willie. It’s more about feeling at home instead of a job.”
