Ropati Pitoitua

Ropati Pitoitua (/roʊˈpɑːti pɪtəˈɪtwɑː/ roh-PAH-tee pit-ə-IT-wah; born April 6, 1985) is a former American football defensive end. He was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Washington State. Pitoitua has also played for the Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans.

Ropati Pitoitua
Pitoitua in the 2012 NFL season
No. 79, 75, 92
Position:Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1985-04-06) April 6, 1985
Aua, American Samoa
Height:6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Weight:298 lb (135 kg)
Career information
High school:Lakewood (WA) Clover Park
College:Washington State
Undrafted:2008
Career history
Career NFL statistics as of 2017
Total tackles:150
Sacks:9.0
Forced fumbles:2
Fumble recoveries:1
Interceptions:0
Player stats at NFL.com

Early years

Pitoitua was born in American Samoa to Sooalo Ropati and Faipine Pitoitua. He has 1 brother and 4 sisters.[1] He played football and basketball at Clover Park High School in Lakewood, Washington, although he did not pick up football until his junior season. In 2002, he earned two football letters, in addition to being named the Seamount League Defensive Player of the Year.

College career

He played in 36 games (25 starts), posting 116 tackles, (19 for losses) and 8.5 sacks in four seasons at Washington State and was named WSU's Leon Bender Award winner as Cougars' Defensive Lineman of the Year as senior when he started 11 games at defensive tackle and one at defensive end.

As a freshman in 2004 he played in 8 games with 4 starts and was named The Sporting News All-Pacific-10 freshman team after recording 24 tackles (5.5 for losses) and 5 sacks. In 2005, he played in 7 games with no starts after suffering a broken leg in fall camp and missed the first five games of the season, in limited duty he recorded 13 tackles (1 for a loss) and 1 sack. As a junior in 2006 he played in 9 games starting all 9 and recording 37 tackles (7.5 for losses) and 2.5 sacks. As a senior in 2007 he played in 12 games, starting all of them and made 40 tackles, 7 for losses and went without a sack.

Professional career

New York Jets

He was signed by the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2008 and spent the season on the team's practice squad.[2] In 2009, Pitoitua posted three tackles in eight games. During the preseason in 2010, Pitoitua tore his Achilles tendon against the Carolina Panthers[3] and was placed on the injured reserve list on August 23, 2010.[2] Pitoitua was waived by the team on May 2, 2012.[4]

Kansas City Chiefs
Pipotuia during his tenure with the Jets.

Pitoitua was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs on May 8, 2012.[5]

Tennessee Titans

Pitoitua signed with the Tennessee Titans on March 25, 2013.[6] Pitoitua and the Titans agreed to a new three-year contract on March 6, 2014.[7] On August 28, 2016, Pitoitua was waived by the Titans.[8]

References
  1. "Ropati Pitoitua". Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  2. Wilson, Aaron (August 23, 2010). "Jets place Ropati Pitoitua on injured reserve". National Football Post. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  3. Kent, Andy (August 26, 2010). "Jets Lineman Ropati Pitoitua's Hard Luck Injury Chronicled On HBO". NFL FanHouse. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  4. Mehta, Manish (May 2, 2012). "Jets waive DL Ropati Pitoitua; Announce signings of PK Josh Brown and long snapper Derek Chard". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on May 3, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  5. Kansas City Chiefs Public Relations (May 8, 2012). "Chiefs sign free agent DE Ropati Pitoitua". Kansas City Chiefs. Archived from the original on May 10, 2012. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  6. "Pitoitua Signs With Tennessee". March 25, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
  7. Gantt, Darin. "Titans lock up Ropati Pitoitua with a three-year deal". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  8. "Titans Make First Round of Roster Cuts". TitansOnline.com. September 3, 2016. Archived from the original on August 7, 2017.
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