Jeff Otah
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey C. Otah is a Nigerian American
football
offensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Panthers 19th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Pittsburgh
.
at the age of seven, then moved to New Castle, Delaware
at the age of thirteen. He played high school football
at William Penn High School
in New Castle, Delaware.
Otah was considered by many scouts to be a top tackle prospect. The Carolina Panthers
were reportedly very interested in him, evident by them sending head coach John Fox and General Manager Marty Hurney
to his pro-day.
to trade up and to select him. He was selected with the 19th pick in the first round. Otah sat out the entire 2010 season with a knee injury. Jeff became an immediate starter at right tackle early in training camp. He started in 12 of the possible 16 games his first season missing 4 due to injury.
Otah started the 2010 season recovering from what was then thought to be relatively minor knee surgery performed in mid-August. But on 9 November, the Panthers placed Otah on injured reserve
, ending his season without him ever taking the field..
Otah's knee problems persisted into the 2011 season, and he was placed on injured reserve again on 19 October 2011, after missing two of six games.
Nigerian American
Nigerian Americans are citizens of the United States of America who are or descend from immigrants from Nigeria. Since the late 1960s and early 1970s, approximately one million Nigerians have immigrated in to the United States....
football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
offensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Panthers 19th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
.
Early years
He moved to The BronxThe Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
at the age of seven, then moved to New Castle, Delaware
New Castle, Delaware
New Castle is a city in New Castle County, Delaware, six miles south of Wilmington, situated on the Delaware River. In 1900, 3,380 people lived here; in 1910, 3,351...
at the age of thirteen. He played high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
at William Penn High School
William Penn High School (Delaware)
William Penn High School, also known and referred to as William Penn or simply Penn is a four-year comprehensive, coeducational public high school located in New Castle, Delaware, United States. The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and a member of the...
in New Castle, Delaware.
2008 NFL Draft
Coming in the 2008 NFL Draft2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
Otah was considered by many scouts to be a top tackle prospect. The Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
were reportedly very interested in him, evident by them sending head coach John Fox and General Manager Marty Hurney
Marty Hurney
Marty Hurney is the General Manager of the Carolina Panthers. He is responsible for the salary cap and coordinates other facets of the football operations....
to his pro-day.
Carolina Panthers
Reports of the Panthers being interested in Otah proved to be well founded after the team made a trade with the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
to trade up and to select him. He was selected with the 19th pick in the first round. Otah sat out the entire 2010 season with a knee injury. Jeff became an immediate starter at right tackle early in training camp. He started in 12 of the possible 16 games his first season missing 4 due to injury.
Otah started the 2010 season recovering from what was then thought to be relatively minor knee surgery performed in mid-August. But on 9 November, the Panthers placed Otah on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
, ending his season without him ever taking the field..
Otah's knee problems persisted into the 2011 season, and he was placed on injured reserve again on 19 October 2011, after missing two of six games.