PROVO -- BYU consensus All-American Dennis Pitta was drafted on Saturday by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft.
A 6-foot-4, 245-pound tight end, Pitta was the 16th pick of the fourth round and the 114th overall selection in this year’s draft. The seventh tight end selected overall, Pitta is the first BYU player to be drafted by the Ravens organization. Pitta will join former Cougar teammate and current Raven reserve quarterback John Beck in Baltimore. Beck played quarterback for BYU during Pitta’s freshman season in 2004.
A native of Moorpark, Calif., Pitta is the highest-drafted BYU player since the Miami Dolphins took Beck in the second round in the 2007 draft. Pitta’s selection gives BYU a fourth-round pick in each of the last three drafts, joining wide receiver Austin Collie (fourth round, 127 overall by the Indianapolis Colts) last year and linebacker Bryan Kehl (fourth round, 123 overall by the New York Giants) in 2008.
Pitta concluded a standout career at BYU in 2009 as a consensus All-American and the NCAA all-time leader among tight ends with 2,901 career receiving yards. He also established BYU records for career receptions (221), career receptions by a tight end (221), and single-season receptions by a tight end (83). He earned first-team All-Mountain West Conference accolades his final three seasons while helping BYU achieve a 32-7 record and consistent top-25 rankings, including a No. 12 final ranking in 2009.
Pitta is the highest-drafted BYU tight end since the Oakland Raiders took Doug Jolley in the second round of the 2002 draft. Overall, Pitta is the 10th BYU tight end to be selected in the NFL Draft and the fourth since 2001. Including NFL All-Pro tight end Todd Christensen, the Cougars have had 11 players drafted to play tight end in the NFL. The Dallas Cowboys selected Christensen, a running back at BYU, in the second round in 1978 on Christensen’s way to an All-Pro career as a tight end with the Oakland Raiders.
Other Cougar tight ends drafted by the NFL include Spencer Nead (2003 seventh round, New England Patriots), Jolley (2002 second round, Oakland Raiders), Tevita Ofahengaue (2001 seventh round, Arizona Cardinals), Itula Mili (1997 sixth round, Seattle Seahawks), Chris Smith (1991 11th round, Cincinnati Bengals), Gordon Hudson (1984 first round NFL supplemental draft, Seattle Seahawks), Clay Brown (1981 second round, Denver Broncos), Tod Thompson (1979 10th round, Pittsburgh Steelers) and Brian Billick (1977 11th round, San Francisco 49ers). Chad Lewis, another standout Cougar tight end, earned All-Pro credentials with the Philadelphia Eagles after starting his career through free agency.
With Pitta's selection, BYU maintains its MWC-best streak of having a least one player drafted in each of the last 16 drafts. A Cougar has been picked in 43 of the last 44 annual NFL drafts dating back to 1967.
CLICK HERE to read about other Cougars signing as free agents with NFL teams.
CLICK HERE to view Dennis Pitta's BYU bio as well as video highlights and photographs.
Dennis Pitta All-America honors, career statistics and records
2009 ALL-AMERICA HONORS
NCAA Consensus All-America Tight End
Walter Camp Foundation First Team
American Football Coaches Association First Team
Pro Football Weekly First Team
Associated Press Second Team
Sports Illustrated Second Team
CBSSports.com Second Team
Rivals.com Second Team
Sporting News Third Team
Phil Steele Third Team
College Football News honorable mention
STATISTICS
Yr GP Rec Yds TD Long Avg./R Avg./G
2004 11 17 176 2 21 10.4 16.0
2007 13 59 813 5 45 13.8 62.5
2008 13 83 1083 6 46 13.0 83.3
2009 13 62 829 8 35 13.4 63.8
TOTAL 50 221 2901 21 46 13.1 58.0
CAREER BESTS
Rec: 12 (at CSU; Nov. 1, 2008)
Yds: 213 (vs. No. Iowa; Aug. 30, 2008)
TD: 2 (five times)
LNG: 46 (vs. No. Iowa; Aug. 30, 2008)
NCAA CAREER RECORDS
Career tight end receiving yards: 2,901 (2004, 07-09)
BYU SEASON & CAREER RECORDS
Receptions by a tight end in a season: 83 (2008)
Career tight end receiving yards: 2,901 (2004, 07-09)
Career tight end receptions: 221 (2004, 07-09)
Career receptions: 221 (2004, 07-09)