Born: December 10, 1998- Mishawaka, Indiana
Entering 2026:  Years as a Lion: 2nd  Years in CFL: 2nd   Status: American
Career Games: 10   Playoffs: 2    Grey Cup: 0

Acquired:

Zander was signed as a free agent by the Lions in January 2025.

Highlights:

2025: Zander’s first CFL season saw him suit up in ten regular season games and two more in the Grey Cup Playoffs. He made a major impact in his first start on September 19 at Calgary, rushing for 152 yards and a game-sealing touchdown on 12 total carries. He finished the 2025 regular season with 24 carries for 231 yards and two touchdowns, while hauling in a pair of receptions for 47 yards.

2023-24: Zander was waived by the Chargers at the end of 2023 training camp and was signed to the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad. Following his release, he re-joined the Chargers for a second stint later in the 2023 campaign. He then had training camp stints in New Orleans and Miami in 2024.

2022: A seventh-round selection (260th overall) by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2022 NFL Draft, Zander appeared in 15 regular season games and scored a touchdown in each of his first two appearances including a week two Thursday Night Football appearance in Kansas City. Zander capped off his rookie campaign by suiting up in the AFC Wild Card Game at Jacksonville. Finished his rookie season with 16 yards from scrimmage on five receptions and four rushes.

College:

2018-21: Zander suited up in 38 games over four seasons at Purdue and recorded 1,181 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 268 carries. The versatile back also hauled in 68 receptions for 592 yards and one major while in 2020 he became the first Purdue running back since 1997 to record 100 yards receiving in one game. Zander was also an Academic All-Big Ten selection in each of his four years with the Boilermakers.