Chazz Surratt

Chazz Surratt (born February 16, 1997) is an American football linebacker for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Carolina, where he began his career as a quarterback, and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Chazz Surratt
refer to caption
Surratt with the North Carolina Tar Heels
No. 55 – New York Jets
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1997-02-16) February 16, 1997
Denver, North Carolina, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:233 lb (106 kg)
Career information
High school:East Lincoln
(Denver, North Carolina)
College:North Carolina (2016–2020)
NFL Draft:2021 / Round: 3 / Pick: 78
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2021
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early years

Surratt attended East Lincoln High School in Denver, North Carolina. A highly regarded high school quarterback, Surratt was a two-time first-team Associated Press all-state selection. During his senior year, Surratt was named Parade National Player of the Year and a Parade All-American, as well as the Associated Press offensive player of the year in North Carolina.[1]

College career

Recruited by Tar Heel coach Larry Fedora to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to play quarterback, Surratt redshirted during his first season with the program. He was named the starting quarterback during his redshirt freshman season, replacing graduate transfer Brandon Harris who had struggled to begin the season. Surratt himself struggled with inconsistency and injury throughout 2017, only appearing in nine games, starting seven. After a suspension to start the 2018 season,[2] Surratt became the backup to Nathan Elliott. He appeared in one game during his redshirt sophomore season, sustaining a season-ending injury against Miami.

When Head Coach Mack Brown returned before the 2019 season, Surratt elected to make the switch to linebacker prior to his redshirt junior season rather than transfer to another school for an opportunity to continue to play quarterback.[3] Carolina had just signed the highly-touted Sam Howell and also had quarterbacks Cade Fortin and Jace Ruder on the roster, giving Surratt slim chances to crack the quarterback depth chart. The move to linebacker proved to be a revelation, and Surratt had a successful season highlighted by a game-winning interception against rival Duke.[4] In the 2019 season, Surratt started and played in all 13 games and had 115 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery. After the completion of the season, Surratt was named first-team All-ACC at the linebacker position.[5] In his redshirt senior season in 2020, Surratt played in 11 games and finished with 91 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovered.

Surratt opted out of participating in the Orange Bowl against Texas A&M, in order to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft.[6]

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBench press
6 ft 2+1⁄8 in
(1.88 m)		 229 lb
(104 kg)		 30+1⁄4 in
(0.77 m)		 9+5⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		4.59 s1.62 s2.68 s4.18 s7.04 s31.5 in
(0.80 m)		25 reps
All values from Pro Day[7][8]

Minnesota Vikings

Surratt was drafted in the third round (78th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.[9]

2021 season: Rookie year

Entering his inaugural training camp in the NFL, Surratt competed for a starting inside linebacker job against Nick Vigil and Blake Lynch. At the conclusion of the preseason, head coach Mike Zimmer named Surratt a backup inside linebacker behind Anthony Barr, Eric Kendricks, and Nick Vigil.

Surratt finished his rookie season playing in 9 games (0 starts) and played exclusively on special teams with zero defensive snaps.

2022 season

Surratt competed for a backup inside linebacker job in training camp against rookie Brian Asamoah. However, he struggled in the Vikings' preseason games and was seen as an improper fit in the team's new defensive scheme.

Surratt was waived on August 30, 2022.[10]

New York Jets

On September 1, 2022, Surratt was signed to the New York Jets practice squad.[11] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 9, 2023.[12]

Personal life

Surratt's younger brother, Sage Surratt, was an All-Conference wide-receiver at Wake Forest University.[13]

References
  1. "UNC Commit Chazz Surratt Named Parade All-America Player of the Year". Chapelboro.com. February 5, 2016.
  2. Shapiro, Michael (August 6, 2018). "13 North Carolina Football Players Suspended Following Sneaker Sale Scandal". SI.com.
  3. "Chazz Surratt Embracing Linebacker Mindset". 247Sports.com. August 4, 2019.
  4. "UNC's Chazz Surratt redeems himself with game-sealing interception versus Duke". The Daily Tar Heel. October 27, 2019.
  5. "Clemson Leads 2019 All-ACC Football Team". TheACC.com. December 3, 2019.
  6. Delahanty, Nick (December 21, 2020). "UNC Football: Chazz Surratt opts out of bowl game". keepingitheel.com. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  7. "2021 NFL Draft Scout Chazz Surratt College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  8. "Chazz Surratt 2021 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  9. Peters, Craig (April 30, 2021). "Vikings Draft North Carolina Linebacker Chazz Surratt with 78th Overall Pick". Vikings.com. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  10. "Vikings Announce Roster Moves, Set Initial 53-Man Roster". Vikings.com. August 30, 2022.
  11. Lange, Randy (September 1, 2022). "Jets Sign CB Craig James, LB Chazz Surratt to Practice Squad". NewYorkJets.com.
  12. Greenberg, Ethan (January 9, 2023). "Jets Sign Seven Players to Reserve/Future Contracts". NewYorkJets.com.
  13. Fowler, Chapel (September 11, 2019). "The Surratt Bowl: Wake Forest game will pit UNC's Chazz against younger brother, Sage". The Daily Tar Heel.
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