Jake Witt
No. 76 – Indianapolis Colts | |
---|---|
Position: | Michigan Tech (2018) Northern Michigan (2019–2022) |
NFL draft: | 2023 / Round: 7 / Pick: 236 |
Career history | |
| |
Roster status: | Active |
Career NFL statistics | |
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Jake Witt (born February 7, 2000) is an
Early years
Witt was born on February 7, 2000.[1] He grew up in the small town of Bruce Crossing, Michigan which is located east of Duluth by three hours and south of Lake Superior by approximately 30 minutes.[2] The town did not have any football teams, not even pee-wee youth leagues.[2] He began playing basketball in second grade and continued through high school.[2]
Witt was a standout athlete at Ewen-Trout Creek High School, at which he played basketball and track, and, starting as a junior, football.[2][3] He played for the school's eight-man football team (they did not have a full team, as they did not have enough players) and playing wide receiver, recorded 102 receptions in 18 games while being named all-state.[2][4] Witt initially received attention from colleges for basketball, but he generated interest from schools for football as well.[2] As a senior, he concentrated on basketball and he was subsequently named the Upper Peninsula Mr. Basketball. He finished his high school career with over 1,000 points scored and over 1,000 rebounds.[2][5] Witt was valedictorian of his class.[6]
College career
Michigan Tech
After graduating from high school, Witt had a decision to make about college – not just about which to attend, but also about what sports to play.[2] "[It] came down to Michigan Tech for basketball, Northern Michigan [NMU] for football or [to] take my preferred walk-on spot at Central Michigan," he later said.[2] "So two of my final three choices were football. But I decided to go the basketball route."[2] Witt announced his commitment to Michigan Tech in November 2017,[7] and played his first season in 2018, posting an average of 6.4 points-per-game.[2] According to The Athletic, he "appeared to have a bright future" with the team, but as a sophomore decided to change his major, which also meant in his case changing schools.[2]
Northern Michigan
Witt transferred to NMU, and started pursuing a sports and fitness management degree.[2] After not playing sports for a year, he decided he wanted to try out football again in 2020.[2] He joined the team at tight end but soon after the season was canceled due to COVID-19.[2] The following year, with activities being resumed, he played but was mainly used as a blocker, having compiled only 79 receiving yards on six catches through the year's first eight matches.[2]
At halftime during their mid-season game against the eventual national champions
"The film was silly," Witt later said.
Professional career
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle |
Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 7+1⁄8 in (2.01 m) |
302 lb (137 kg) |
33+1⁄2 in (0.85 m) |
10+1⁄8 in (0.26 m) |
4.89 s | 1.71 s | 2.76 s | 4.62 s | 7.44 s | 37.0 in (0.94 m) |
10 ft 3 in (3.12 m) |
22 reps | |
Sources:[9][10] |
Witt declined an opportunity to participate in the
In the 2023 NFL draft, Witt was selected in the seventh round, 236th overall, by the Indianapolis Colts, the first Wildcat drafted since Mark Maddox in 1991.[11] He was placed on season-ending injured reserve on August 5, 2023 with a hip injury.[12]
References
- ^ "Jake Witt". Northern Michigan Wildcats. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa Brugler, Dane (March 22, 2023). "The Rapid Rise of 2023 NFL Draft Prospect Jake Witt: 'He's Going to Be Drafted'". The Athletic. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
- ^ "NMU Offensive Tackle Declares for NFL Draft". Upper Michigan's Source. Negaunee, Michigan: WLUC-TV. December 8, 2022. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
- ^ Grall, Dennis (December 22, 2017). "Jake Witt: The UP's Best-Kept Secret". Michigan High School Athletic Association. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
- ^ Juno, Jason (February 6, 2018). "Witt is unique to E-TC's strong history of guards". The Daily Mining Gazette. Houghton, Michigan. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
- ^ Marchionte, Bo (February 4, 2023). "NFL Draft: Northern Michigan OT Jake Witt Runs Sub-4.8". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
- ^ Juno, Jason (November 9, 2017). "E-TC's Jake Witt Signs NLI to Play Basketball at Michigan Tech". The Daily Mining Gazette. Houghton, Michigan. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
- ^ Durant, Jake (December 9, 2022). "NMU's Jake Witt Talks Decision to Declare for NFL Draft". UPMatters.com. Marquette, Michigan: WJMN-TV. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
- ^ "Jake Witt Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
- ^ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Jake Witt College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
- ^ Crawford, Kirkland (April 29, 2023). "Northern Michigan OL Jake Witt Picked by Colts in Round 7 of NFL Draft". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
- ^ "Colts sign TEs Nick Eubanks, Michael Jacobson, place OT Jake Witt on injured reserve, waive RB Toriano Clinton". Colts.com. August 5, 2023.