Titans draft ex-Desert Pines lineman Poutasi in third round
Jeremiah Poutasi said before the NFL Draft he was nervous and uncertain about where he would go.
The former Desert Pines High School standout didn’t wait long to find out.
The Tennessee Titans selected him Friday with the second pick of the third round, No. 66 overall.
“I’m very blessed,” Poutasi said in a text message before citing the Bible verse Jeremiah 29:11, which speaks of God’s plans for a person.
And now Poutasi is part of the Titans’ plans and those of coach Ken Whisenhunt.
“He’s a big, physical run-blocking guy,” Whisenhunt said. “With his technique, like with a lot of young guys, there’s a learning curve. That’s not surprising. The thing that stands out is he can move well for his size. He can move laterally, and he has a lot of power. There’s a lot to work with there.”
Poutasi (6 feet 5 inches, 335 pounds) started at left tackle the past two seasons at Utah and at right tackle as a freshman. He is expected to move to guard in the NFL.
Now he also gets to play with a former Pac-12 Conference rival. With the second overall pick of the draft, the Titans chose Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, last season’s Heisman Trophy winner.
“I’m excited to play with the guy,” Poutasi said, according to the Titans’ website. “I’ve seen him in person, and it’s an honor to get to play with him.”
Only 20 years old, he left Utah a year early, a questionable decision at the time. But the Titans clearly believe in Poutasi’s ability.
“It’s a decision (to leave early) that I talked over with my fiancee and my family,” Poutasi said last week. “Once I made the decision, I wasn’t going to regret it. I was going to take whatever option comes my way.”
The final rounds of the draft are today.
Former UNLV wide receiver Devante Davis (6-3, 220) is expected to be taken in the later rounds. Offensive lineman Brett Boyko (6-7, 300) is projected to sign as an undrafted free agent.
Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.
