Top 30 Most Overlooked High School Recruits to Go Pro Since 2000
By Zach Bigalke
Dennis Pitta had a long path to the NFL. At Moorpark High School in California, Pitta was a three-sport letterman who played wide receiver and cornerback. His scholastic record and on-field prowess landed Pitta interest from Dartmouth and Yale in addition to Navy, Oklahoma State, Oregon, and Utah. Yet because he was unrated among the 2003 recruits at either of his positions, none of the schools offered scholarships. Pitta decided to walk on under Gary Crowton at BYU, where he was soon moved to tight end to take advantage of his size.
After grayshirting in 2003, Pitta took over starting duties after Daniel Coats was injured, and he finished with 17 catches for 176 yards and two scores. At this point, though, the LDS member decided to take his two-year mission. Returning from the Dominican Republic in 2007, Pitta caught 204 passes for over 2700 yards and 19 touchdowns over the next three seasons. He was a Mackey Award finalist in his senior season and a unanimous All-American selection. Leaving the pass-happy school as the all-time record holder in receptions, Pitta was selected in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Baltimore. Since then, he has been a mainstay with the Ravens and caught a touchdown to help them win Super Bowl XLVII over San Francisco.