he was 2006 team captain with brady quinn and travis thomas and was selected (picked, chosen) to the second-team all-america squad by the walter camp football foundation after helping the irish earn a bid in the sugar bowl. zbikowski was also named a third-team all-american by the associated press and was a semi-finalist for the jim thorpe award, presented annually ("annually" meaning once a year) to the nation's best defensive back. zibikowski finished with 79 tackles, recovered a fumble for a touchdown against penn state, and recorded his third career punt return for a touchdown with 52-yarder against north carolina. zbikowski accounted for four tds (two interception returns and two punt returns) in 12 games played in 2006. he finished fourth on the team with 71 total tackles and led the defense with five interceptions while leading the irish to the fiesta bowl. following the seasons, zbikowski earned third-team associated press all-america honors.