NCAA Scouting - Player Profile:
Jeff Otah, OT/G
by James Izzard
12/3/2008
 
Rather fittingly Jeff Otah appears to be a frequent visitor of diners, especially in the Pennsylvania region!
 
The huge 340 lb offensive tackle out of Pittsburgh is the next draft prospect we put under the microscope.
 
Otah is a tackle/guard prospect coming out of the University of Pittsburgh. He played just 2 seasons for the Panthers, and before then was enrolled at the Valley Forge Military Academy.
 
Pitt has a strong record of producing elite NFL talent: Jimbo Covert, Mark May, Bill Fralic and Reuben Brown are just four of many guys who have gone on and made an impact on Sundays.
 
Joining Pittsburgh in 2006, he immediately took over as the starting left tackle, starting all twelve games. Since then NFL scouts have been watching him closely, and he continued to impress in his senior year, producing 101 knockdowns, thirteen blocks leading to touchdowns and finishing with an 82% grade for block consistency.
 
There is still some debate as to which position suits Otah best, be it left tackle, right tackle or guard.
 
What we like about Otah
 
We love Otah's mammoth frame, he's a thoroughbred, old fashioned, 'road grader' type that will suit teams who like big bodied players in their trenches.
 
He rarely got beat in his two years at Pittsburgh, giving up only four sacks and one quarterback pressure in his entire Division 1A career.
 
His major strength is run blocking: he has the potential to one of the best in the league, and his pass protection is more than adequate. As his Pitt stats suggest, he manages to move well despite his frame.
 
Question marks over Otah
 
The question as to which position Otah best projects may hurt his stock. Although a good athlete for his size, he might have trouble with speedsters off the edge. Otah is considered a first round prospect but again this largely depends on how teams view his best position: if he's drafted as a guard or left tackle, he may yet slip.
 
Highlight of his College Career
 
Playing against the University of Virginia in his senior season, Otah put in a flawless performance against defensive end Chris Long. Long is seen as a top five prospect at the time of writing.
 
Other Snippets of Info

• Otah was not recruited coming out of College as he concentrated on basketball at his high school.

• Pittsburgh Head Coach and former Miami Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt proclaimed Otah was the best blocker he'd ever coached.

• Playing for Forge Valley he was voted the 2003 league MVP in the All-Seaboard conference.

• NFL players you could compare him to would be Max Starks of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

• Potential good fits – Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys or the San Francisco 49ers.