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Panthers Choose Stewart With 13th Overall Pick, Trade Up For Otah

Stewart gives the Panthers two good options in the backfield, as he will team with incumbent starter DeAngelo Williams

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By
Ryan Craig

The Carolina Panthers selected running back Jonathan Stewart with the 13th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.

The Charlotte franchise then traded their second and fourth round picks this year and their first round pick next year to Philadelphia for the rights to the 19th overall pick - with that pick the Panthers chose Pittsburgh offensive tackle Jeff Otah.

Stewart rushed for a school-record 1722 yards on 280 carries his junior season at Oregon, his last in college. The Fort Lewis, WA native averaged more than six yards a carry his final year in Eugene, OR and scored 11 touchdowns on the ground.

In his final game as a Duck, Stewart rushed 23 times for 253 yards against South Florida in the Sun Bowl.

A powerful runner that exhibits the dowhill running style the Panthers prefer, the 5-11 Stewart can also catch the ball out of the backfield. He caught 22 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns last season on his way to a Pac-10 leading 2,481 all-purpose yards.

Stewart had surgery on March 12th to correct a turf toe injury. Stewart and his agent say he will be ready by training camp, but NFL teams aren't so sure.

However, the injury didn't prevent Stewart from taking part in drills at the NFL combine. The first team all-conference player did 28 reps of the 225 pound bench press and posted a 36.5 inch vertical leap. Most impressively, even with the balky toe, Stewart registered a 4.46 second time in the 40-yard dash.

In Otah, the Panthers get a 6-6, 322 pound left tackle that will immediately add toughness and bulk to their offensive line.

Otah began his college career at Valley Forge Military Academy before transferring to Pittsburgh for his final two years. After concentrating on basketball for most of his high school career, Otah made the switch to the gridiron his senior year. His lack of experience and exposure caused him to be overlooked by most colleges, so he was forced to play football at the prep school for two seasons.

During his senior year at Pitt, he tallied 101 knockdown blocks, 13 of which led to touchdowns. At the end of the year, the New Castle, DE native garnered All Big East conference honors.

 

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