Chandler Zavala cherishes opportunity to return to NC State football
When NC State football offensive guard Chandler Zavala spoke with The Wolfpacker in February, he had a simple message. He “would just like to have a fair chance.”
At the time, Zavala was in the midst of what seemed like an uphill battle to gain an extra season of eligibility from the NCAA.
At the time, Zavala was going through difficult and challenging days that extended far beyond his case with the NCAA, especially with his father, Demetrio, about to have the second of three surgeries.
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The first was an emergency procedure shortly before NC State went to San Diego to prepare for a bowl game that did not happen against UCLA. At one point during that surgery, Demetrio had to be revived.
That was on top of Zavala dealing with his own back injury that ended his season after a Week Five game against Louisiana Tech. Zavala would have his own surgery to repair that ailment.
Then, most publicly, the NCAA denied Zavala’s initial appeal to have a sixth season of eligibility. Zavala’s case was built around having played the minimum of games as a freshman at Fairmont State and then last year for the Pack.
In five seasons, Zavala was only able to play 30 games due to injuries and COVID-19.
In early April, Zavala sent his final appeal to the NCAA and was expecting to hear back in 10 days. Then starting April 11, the fortunes turned for Zavala and his family.
Chandler Zavala receives good news on multiple fronts
First, both Zavala and his father were medically cleared. Then on Tuesday, April 12, Zavala received an unexpected call about his eligibility case.
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“They had called me on the sixth day,” Zavala recalled. “I was kind of scared and worried.”
Turned out the third time was the charm.
“I just broke down in tears,” Zavala noted. “I called my dad, and the first teammate I called was Grant Gibson, and I started crying. Then I told all the boys.”
That capped a “very emotional” experience for Zavala.
“Through my rehab process, I was glad I was able to be around the team because it was a very hard time,” Zavala added.
Zavala takes nothing for granted, including practicing in full pads. He was quick to note that the August 11 camp workout was the first time since the win over Louisiana Tech that he had fully suited up in football gear.
“I cherish every day I go on that field,” Zavala noted.
Zavala knew he took a gamble by appealing for an extra season with the NCAA.
“We started this process January 2. NFL teams kept calling, but all I could tell them was, ‘You got to wait two weeks,’” Zavala remembered. “Kept waiting.
“I did think what if, but it came. It’s 50-50 every time with the NCAA. I had to weigh my options and stay the course.”
The result was a moment that Zavala will never forget.
“That second week of April was probably the best week of my life,” Zavala said
