Dennis Pitta: Greatest BYU Tight End?

by sroufe on Sep 30, 2009 3:04 PM PDT Comment 6 comments

With his fourth of five receptions last Saturday, Dennis Pitta surpassed Gordon Hudson to become BYU’s all-time leader in receptions for a tight end. Pitta currently trails only Hudson and Chris Smith in receiving yards for tight ends. He is also behind only Jonny Harline and Clay Brown in touchdown receptions for tight ends. By the end of October, Pitta could very well possess all these records. Here’s a breakdown:

Player, Years	Rec. Yards.	Receptions	Yards/Catch	TD Rec.
Gordon Hudson, 1981-83	2,484	178	13.96	12
Chris Smith, 1987-90	2,367	137	17.28	8
Dennis Pitta, 2004, 2007-Present	2,328	180	12.93	14
Jonny Harline, 2005-06	1,788	121	14.78	17
Itula Mili, 1991, 1994-96	1,763	125	14.10	11
Tod Thompson, 1976-78	1,722	84	20.50	15
Clay Brown, 1978-80	1,691	88	19.24	17

In summary, after this season, the former Cougar with likely the best argument for being better than Pitta will be Hudson. Hudson was recently inducted into the NCAA Hall of Fame. Hudson still holds NCAA records for most passes caught per game by a tight end (5.4), most career yards per game by a tight end (75.3) and most yards in a game by a tight end (259 vs. Utah). He was also a unanimous All-American twice (1982, 1983).

Pitta, meanwhile, will almost certainly make his third All-MWC 1st team in 2009. He was a Rivals 3rd Team All-American last season and an Honorable Mention All-American by both Sports Illustrated and College Football News. Not bad for a former walk-on, with no scholarship offers out of high school in Moorpark, California.

Prior to this season, The NFL Draft Scout rated Pitta as the sixth-ranked tight end available for the 2010 NFL Draft. They projected him as being selected in the 3rd or 4th round.

Smith's best argument would be that his yards per catch average was far greater than both Hudson and Pitta - but he scored far less and was playing with the greatest quarterback in school history. Harline's best argument might be that he amassed his totals in just two seasons. Mili? Had to share touches with Chad Lewis. Thompson? Highest yard/reception average AND a fantastic mustache. Brown? Perhaps the first truly phenomenal tight end in Provo - and he punted!

Still, Pitta's recent productivity is undeniable. We should continue to recognize his tremendous contributions to the program just as BYU fans did with Austin Collie in 2008. It doesn't get much better than this.

Poll

Who is the greatest tight end in BYU football history?

Gordon Hudson

3 votes

Dennis Pitta

24 votes

Other (i.e. Chris Smith, Jonny Harline) - Leave Comment Below

0 votes

27 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

chad lewis

need i say more

Vanquish the Foe, a BYU Cougars blog at SB Nation

by danbyu1 on Sep 30, 2009 8:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes

Please persuade me in thinking Lewis was better than Pitta WHILE AT BYU… I hope you’re kidding. Chad has certainly had the best NFL career out of any of these TEs, and perhaps the third best NFL career by a Cougar (behind Young and McMahon), but Pitta has blown away Lewis in every statistical category in college…

Vanquish the Foe, a BYU Cougars blog at SB Nation

by Layton on Oct 1, 2009 4:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs