- August 11, 2026
As a freshman, Flagler Palm Coast defensive end Cal Zwirn was given the nickname, “Baby Cronk.”
“He did everything Colby did,” FPC defensive coordinator John King said of former FPC defensive end Colby Cronk, who is entering his second season as a defensive lineman at North Carolina State. “That was a great standard for Cal.”
“That was a good nickname to have,” said Zwirn, who is now a junior. “Colby Cronk is a great player, obviously. And I aspire to be like him, but also, I am my own person, and I have a different playing style than he does.”
This year, Zwirn and Brian Veal, the Bulldogs’ other starting defensive end, hope to make names for themselves.
Veal transferred in December to FPC from Viera High School, where he had nine sacks and 54 total tackles as a sophomore last season.
“They’re extremely athletic,” King said of the two ends. “They play disciplined. They’re coachable. And when the ball is snapped, they are two of the best athletes on the field.”
Zwirn had 24 tackles and a sack in eight games last year, missing two games because of injury.
“Cal’s always been ready to go, even last year when he was hurt,” said senior defensive tackle Reagan Melland. “He still played through it, and we loved that. So having him this year, fully healthy, is going to be very exciting.”
Veal is listed at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, while Zwirn is 6-2, 215 pounds. While Veal is a little quicker and faster, Zwirn “is plenty quick and fast,” King said.
“I think we're both pretty strong rushers,” Zwirn said. “And we both know our assignments pretty well. I'm confident in both of our abilities to get to the quarterback as fast as we can.”
King and second-year head coach Patrick Turner are very excited about the Bulldogs’ defense entering the season.
“Defensively, we’re going to be formidable,” King said.
Turner said Veal and Zwirn are both extremely hard workers with great attitudes.
“They’re fun kids to coach,” he said. “They are two staples of our defense, and our defense is going to be very tough this year.”
Even though Viera was a playoff team last season, Veal said the Bulldogs’ culture is different with the everyone playing for a common goal.
People are definitely doubting us. I feel like we're just going to shock the world. We're going to show a lot of people that FPC is better than what they think.
— BRIAN VEAL
“The intensity is different,” Veal said. “I just feel like the brotherhood here, and the mindset, is definitely different. People are working towards something. I love to be around that, because it pushes me to do something big. People are definitely doubting us. I feel like we're just going to shock the world. We're going to show a lot of people that FPC is better than what they think.”
That starts with the defensive front seven, Zwirn said, where a lot of players are returning.
“There weren't many seniors that graduated, at least on the defensive line and at linebacker,” Zwirn said. “Now that we're growing, getting bigger and faster, and we're understanding our assignments better, and [we're] much more confident.”
Melland said the defensive line, which also includes starting tackle Jacob Harnisch, has been working better as a group. They’re not only together on the field and in the film room, in their free time they hang out together, usually at Zwirn’s house.
“He’s the group hangout person. All the D-linemen go to his house,” Melland said. “I feel like the coaches have helped us a lot to come together more this year too. Last year, we were a little iffy, but this year I feel like we're definitely more confident as a team and as a D-line.”
Melland brings the energy and pushes the other linemen to keep their intensity level up, Veal said.
Colby was just so driven. And I really try to push myself in the weight room and on the field and in the classroom to work like he did.
— CAL ZWIRN
That was the role that Cronk had when he played with the Bulldogs. He was a role model then. Now he weighs over 280 pounds, and has been a beast in the Wolfpack’s weight room this offseason, cleaning a program-record 460 pounds and bench pressing 420 pounds, while clocking a 4.8-second 40-yard dash.
“Colby was just so driven,” Zwirn said. “And I really try to push myself in the weight room and on the field and in the classroom to work like he did. It’s definitely helped me to just think about how I could be if I push myself like he did.”
The whole team is more driven this year, King said.
“You can feel the energy compared to this time last year,” he said “It’s going to be a fun season.”
