50 Best of the Non-BCS: Number 17
The Verdict: Pitta is the best receiving tight end in any non-BCS conference, period. At 6-foot-5, 248-pounds he has ideal size for his position, yet he's remarkably agile in the open field and shows exceptional ability in his route running. A First-Team All-Mountain West selection in both 2007 and 2008, Pitta finished second on the cougars in receiving with 1083 yards and six touchdowns through the air. An underrated stalk blocker who serves as more than just a slot receiver, Pitta has the rare ability to stretch the field from his inside "Z" position, yet also works effectively in red zone situations and finding the soft spot in zone coverages. He's a sturdy player who has the ability to break tackles in the downfield passing game, and has developed an outstanding relationship with quarterback Max Hall, who also happens to be Pitta's brother-in-law. With All-American receiver Austin Collie moving on to the NFL, expect the Hall to Pitta combination to hook up even more in 2009.
Past Players: [#50: Navy LB Ross Pospisil] [#49: Fresno State RB Ryan Mathews] [#48: Wyoming DT John Fletcher] [#47: BSU WR Briggs Orsbon] [#46:EMU QB Andy Schmitt] [#45: Marshall TE Cody Slate] [#44: LA Tech WR/KR Philip Livas] [#43: CSU Gaurd Shelly Smith] [#42: Wyoming FS Chris Prosinski] [#41: SMU receiver Emmanual Sanders] [#40: UTEP QB Trevor Vittatoe] [#39: CMU DE/DT Frank Zombo] [#38: Nevada RB Vai Tuau] [#37:Marshall DE Albert McClellan] [#36: Boise State DE Ryan Winterswyk] [#35: ULM LB Cardia Jackson] [#34: CMU WR Bryan Anderson] [#33: SJSU DE Carl Ihenacho] [#32: ASU DE Alex Carrington] [#31: Kent State RB Eugene Jarvis] [#30: DL D'Anthoney Smith] [#29: BSU FS Sean Baker] [#28: CSU WLB Mychal Sisson] [#27: BSU QB Kellen Moore] [#26: Hawaii C John Estes] [#25: UH RB Bryce Beall] [#24 E. Carolina DE CJ Wilson] [#23 Buffalo WR Naaman Roosevelt] [#22 S. Miss. WR DeAndre Brown] [#21 TCU CB Nick Sanders] [#20 BSU RB Miquale Lewis] [#19 FAU QB Rusty Smith] [#18: BYU LT Matt Reynolds]
