Preston Zachman

BLOOMINGTON, IN - April 21, 2026 - defensive back Preston Zachman #6 of the Indiana Hoosiers during practice at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, IN. Photo By Easton Zelinsky / Indiana University

Photo by: Easton Zelinsky / Indiana University

Position:
DB
Ht./Wt.:
6-2 / 209
Year:
7th
Hometown:
Elysburg, Pa.
High School:
Southern Columbia
Prev School:
Wisconsin

Career Notes & Records
Appeared in 35 games with 20 starts over six seasons at Wisconsin (2020-25) and redshirted his initial collegiate season … Missed all of 2021 and parts of 2022 and 2025 seasons due to injury … Created seven career turnovers – all interceptions … Owns multiple interceptions in three straight seasons … Posted one double-digit tackle game … Five-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.

2025 (Senior+ Season – Wisconsin)
Season: Started three games before missing remainder of the season due to injury … Collected a pair of interceptions in season opener against Miami (Ohio) (8/28) for his second career game with multiple interceptions … Earned Academic All-Big Ten.

2024 (Senior Season – Wisconsin)
Season: Started all 12 games … Had solo tackle for loss against Alabama (9/14) … Pulled in an interception at USC (9/28) … Posted first double-digit tackle game with 10 stops at Rutgers (10/12), which included first multi-tackle for loss game with 1.5 stops behind the line … Added an interception against the Scarlet Knights … Earned Academic All-Big Ten.

2023 (Junior Season – Wisconsin)
Season: Appeared in all 13 games with five starts … Pulled in an interception against Ohio State (10/28) … Pulled in game-sealing interception in overtime against Nebraska (11/18) … Posted solo tackle for loss against Nebraska (11/18) … Earned Academic All-Big Ten.

2022 (Sophomore Season – Wisconsin)
Season: Appeared in six games before missing the remainder of the season due to injury … Grabbed his first career interception in the season opener against Illinois State (9/3) … Posted first career tackle for loss on a combine stop against New Mexico State (9/17) … Earned Academic All-Big Ten.

2021 (Redshirt Freshman Season – Wisconsin)
Did not see any game action due to injury … Earned Academic All-Big Ten.

2020 (Freshman Season – Wisconsin)
Season: Appeared in one game and redshirted his initial collegiate season ... Made collegiate debut against Michigan (11/14).

Prep/Personal
Two-way standout for head coach Jim Roth at Southern Columbia High School … Played linebacker, quarterback and wide receiver during prep career … Consensus three-star recruit by all three major recruiting services … Rated as a top-100 linebacker nationally per 247Sports (No. 98) and ESPN (No. 95) … Consensus top-15 prospect in Pennsylvania per 247Sports (No. 17), ESPN (No. 13) and Rivals (No. 15) … Led SCHS to a 63-1 record his final three prep seasons and three-straight Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class AA state championships – which began a string of seven-straight state titles for the program … Tabbed first-team all-state linebacker by Pennsylvania Football Writers Association as a senior … Accounted for 56 career prep touchdowns (38 passing, 7 receiving, 7 rushing, 4 defensive) … Passed for 1,925 yards and 30 touchdowns his senior season … Added 370 yards rushing and six scores … Posted 26 tackles, three interceptions and one fumble recovery in final prep season … Threw for 597 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior when he assumed quarterback duties for the middle five games of the season … Made 19 receptions for 381 yards and four touchdowns … Chipped in 31 tackles, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries … Also lettered in baseball and wrestling … Son of Amy and Karl Zachman ... Has two brothers, Kaden and Marcus ... Father, Karl, lettered in basketball at Rider University (1989) and Bloomsburg University (1990-93). … Karl reached 1,000 career points in his Bloomsburg career and ranks No. 10 on the career steals charts (132).