Panthers picked in NFL draft

Jeff Otah better get used to being a Panther.

Otah, the former Pitt standout at left… Jeff Otah better get used to being a Panther.

Otah, the former Pitt standout at left tackle, was picked by the Carolina Panthers as the19th selection in the first round of Saturday’s NFL Draft.

After two years at Valley Forge Military Academy, Otah transferred to Pitt before the 2006 season and started all 24 games on the season.

At a mammoth 6-foot-6, 322 pounds, Otah was described as a “mauler” by ESPN’s Chris Berman and Mel Kiper Jr. upon being selected.

Kiper Jr. rated Otah as the 12th best player in the entire draft, and it appeared that the Panthers might have choosen him with the 13th pick.

But Carolina chose running back Jonathan Stewart, and the Bears and Chiefs passed on Otah with the next two picks, opting for other offensive linemen instead.

The Philadelphia Eagles held the 19th pick, but Carolina traded up to net the offensive lineman.

Along with Otah, former Pitt quarterback Joe Flacco went 18th to the Baltimore Ravens.

After missing out on Matt Ryan, who went third to the Falcons, Baltimore traded with the Houston Texans to grab the 18th choice and Flacco.

Flacco, who graduated from Delaware, backed up Tyler Palko for the Panthers in 2004. With Palko entrenched as the starting quarterback, Flacco transferred to Delaware after that season and starred with the Blue Hens.

The 6-foot-6 quarterback threw for more than 7,000 yards and 41 touchdowns in his two seasons at Delaware.