May 2, 2008

It was a mere 24 months ago that Jeff Otah was an anonymous, albeit very large, cadet in military school.

Otah certainly stood out while marching across the rural Pennsylvania campus at Valley Forge Military Academy. Standing 6-feet-6 and weighing nearly 330 pounds makes it hard to hide while in formation.

Two years later, he is again standing out in a crowd - as an NFL first-round draft choice.

Otah became the latest Pitt football product to be picked in the NFL Draft's first round when the Carolina Panthers traded up to take him with the 19^th overall selection.

Carolina dealt its second and fourth-round choices of this year's draft, as well as a 2009 first-round choice, to Philadelphia in order to get Otah. (The Panthers also had the No. 13 pick and selected Jonathan Stewart, a running back out of Oregon.)

"That says a lot about how we feel about Jeff Otah," Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said.

"Otah is a big, physical, offensive tackle. You don't have a lot of opportunities to get players like him, so we made several calls and when we got to Philadelphia, we were able to make the deal."

Otah is the 23rd Pitt player drafted in the first round since 1960. Over the last five drafts, the Panthers have had three first-round picks, including wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald in 2004 (Arizona Cardinals) and cornerback Darrelle Revis (New York Jets) in 2007.

Fitzgerald is a perennial Pro Bowler, while Revis is considered one of the league's up-and-coming stars. Draft analysts are predicting big things as well for Otah, a native of Nigeria who graduated from Delaware's William Penn High and Valley Forge before enrolling at Pitt in August 2006.

It is all dizzying stuff for the mammoth 21-year-old, who did not play football until his senior year of high school. His career has been one of rapid ascension during the past 24 months, going from unknown junior-college recruit to the white-hot spotlight of the NFL Draft.

The draft-day trade was particularly a whirlwind for Otah.

"After they picked Jonathan (Stewart) I thought I wasn't coming (to Carolina)," Otah said. "But I got a call from a guy who said, `How would you like to be a Panther?' I was thinking that the Eagles were picking now, so it must be a prank call. Then I talked to Coach (John) Fox and I remembered his voice, so it was definitely a good feeling knowing that I was coming here.

"It feels good to know that they think highly of me and they want me here. I am just ready to start going to work and filling in some holes that they might need. I just want to work hard and find where I can fit in."

While at Pitt, Otah started every single game at left tackle the last two years (24 consecutive starts) and was named the team's offensive captain as a senior.

His 2007 postseason honors included being named first team All-Big East by both the media and league coaches. He additionally was a first-team Pro Football Weekly All-American and was selected to play in the prestigious Senior Bowl.

Otah was drawn to Pitt, in part, due to Coach Dave Wannstedt's NFL background. Now that he is actually in the NFL, he still values his college coach's advice.

"(Coach Wannstedt) just told me to be a man, and it's a job now," Otah said. "Everyone playing is a grown man and you have to take care of your family. That is how he treated me when I was there (at Pitt) -- like a man. He let you make your own decisions, and if you couldn't abide by that then you wouldn't be playing."

Otah's teammate at right offensive tackle, Mike McGlynn, was also taken in this year's draft. McGlynn was a fourth-round selection of the Philadelphia Eagles, where he projects as an offensive guard or, possibly, a center.

McGlynn was an ironman for Pitt's offensive line, rarely coming off the field during his four years as a starter. He played in every single game (47) from 2004-07, making 42 starts.

McGlynn pledged during an Eagles media conference call to bring that same blue-collar approach to Philadelphia.

"The front line guys don't get any glory and I don't need any glory," McGlynn said. "I just want to come in and get my job done.

"I (had) been watching the draft all day on pins and needles. When you see certain guys go at your position, obviously, you wish you were picked and all that. But, really, I got a home in Philadelphia and I just have to come in and earn my spot on the team and work my tail off. I am going to come in and try to get Philadelphia back into the Super Bowl."

Additionally, defensive back Kennard Cox was a seventh-round pick of the Buffalo Bills. A two-year starter at cornerback for the Panthers, Kennard is actually the second member of the Cox family to be drafted out of Pitt. His cousin Torrie was a 2003 draft choice of Tampa Bay, where he enters his sixth year as a cornerback.

"I think it's a great thing," Kennard said. "I'm just blessed that they decided to use a pick on me. I wasn't expecting the weekend to be this long, but you've got to be patient sometimes. You've got to wait your turn and Buffalo was my turn."

Kennard compiled 32 tackles, five pass breakups, one interception and one fumble recovery this past season and played in the Hula Bowl.

Additionally, Pitt had two players sign as free agents the week after the draft. Tight end Darrell Strong signed with the Oakland Raiders, while defensive end Joe Clermond signed with the Chicago Bears.

Strong was a four-year contributor to Pitt's offense, appearing in 45 career games. As a senior he had 29 catches for 328 yards (11.3 avg.) and three TDs. He also played in the Hula Bowl.

Pitt's defensive captain, Clermond finished the season as the Panthers' leader in sacks (10.5) and tackles for loss (13). His 53 total tackles tied for fourth. An outstanding pass rusher, Clermond's .88 sacks per game ranked 11th nationally (tied) and third in the Big East. He played in the East-West Shrine Game following his senior season.