Former Cal Poly star Dzubnar makes Chargers' roster
Former Cal Poly All-America linebacker Nick Dzubnar received some exciting news Saturday afternoon.
Following a standout preseason training camp, Dzubnar made the San Diego Chargers’ initial 53-man roster and is now the only ex-Mustang in the NFL.
Veteran cornerback and kick returner Asa Jackson was released by the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.
Also released Saturday was rookie Akeem King by the Atlanta Falcons. The cornerback/safety, a graduate of Nipomo High, became the first Titans player ever selected in the NFL Draft when the Falcons picked him in the seventh round out of San Jose State.
The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Dzubnar is one of five inside linebackers listed on San Diego’s roster, which includes veterans Donald Butler, Manti Te’o, Denzel Perryman and Kavell Conner.
Dzubnar, 24, broke the Cal Poly school-record for tackles in a single season with 167 last fall and finished sixth in voting for the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in the FCS.
He carried that same style of play into the Chargers training camp, where he recorded a team-best 25 tackles in four preseason games. Dzubnar is one of four undrafted rookies to make San Diego’s 53-man roster, along with kicker Josh Lambo, wide receiver Tyrell Williams and tackle Tyreek Burwell.
The Chargers host the Detroit Lions in their season opener at 1:05 p.m. on Sept. 13.
Jackson had an up-and-down preseason, breaking a 103-yard kickoff return against the Washington Redskins and almost scoring on a 53-yard punt return against the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday. But he also lost two fumbles on punt returns during the preseason and was low on the cornerback depth chart.
In 2012, Jackson was suspended for the final three regular-season games for taking Adderall. He saw action playoff game but missed the final two that season, including the Ravens’ Super Bowl win over the San Francisco 49ers. In 2013, Jackson was suspended for the first eight regular-season games as a result of a second drug suspension for using Adderall.
This story was originally published September 5, 2015 at 2:20 PM with the headline "Former Cal Poly star Dzubnar makes Chargers' roster."