During his high school years, Jeff Otah played in three varsity football games. Five-star recruit? Not so much. But nothing says a late bloomer can't become a big boomer. Going into April's NFL draft, the 6-6, 322-pounder ranks among the top offensive tackles available. As a left tackle, he plays a demanding position the pros annually covet, though Otah might project better on the right side in the NFL, at least initially; he still has a lot of football to learn. Otah (pronounced OH-taw) found his football footing in two junior college seasons at Valley Forge Military Academy & College in Wayne, Pa. The past two years, he advanced his learning curve game by game as a starter at the University of Pittsburgh. For the NFL team that drafts him, the hope will be that his best is yet to come. "Basketball was what I played in high school. But, you know, football … I love the game now," says Otah, 21, a native of Nigeria who came to the USA at 7. Bill Polian, president of the Indianapolis Colts, acknowledges the critical role of the left tackle for any offense. "Let's face it, they're probably blocking the best rusher. It's always been a marquee position. It's always been hard to find," says Polian, who traded up in last year's draft to obtain Arkansas tackle Tony Ugoh— also a bit of a project leaving college — to protect Peyton Manning. The job requires a rare blend of qualifications. "You might teach them technique," Polian says. "You can't teach them to be 6-7 and 320 pounds and have long arms and quick feet. It's a valued position, for sure." - Gary Mihoces, USA TODAY
