Antonio Pittman

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Antonio Pittman

Ohio State's Troy Smith hands off to Antonio Pittman vs the 2006 Texas Longhorns
St. Louis Rams — No. 30
Running back
Date of birth: December 9, 1985 (1985-12-09) (age 22)
Place of birth: Akron, Ohio
Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Weight: 207 lb (94 kg)
National Football League debut
2007 for the St. Louis Rams
Career history
College: Ohio State
NFL Draft: 2007 / Round: 4 / Pick: 107
 Teams:
*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Current status: Active
Career highlights and awards
  • No notable achievements
Selected NFL statistics
(through Week 17 of the 2007 NFL season)
Rushing yards     139
Rushing average     3.7
Rushing TDs     0
Stats at NFL.com

Antonio Pittman (born December 19, 1985 in Akron, Ohio) is a American football running back for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Ohio State.

Contents

[edit] Early years

Pittman attended Buchtel High School in Akron, Ohio, where he earned All-Ohio honors as a senior. Pittman majored in African American and African Studies at Ohio State. Pittman got a tattoo left arm is a tattoo honoring his brother, Anthony, who died at the age of 23.[1] While in high school Pittman lived with his sister April.[1]

[edit] College career

[edit] 2005

Despite a slow start to the 2005 season, he finished the year with 1,331 yards rushing and seven touchdowns on 243 carries; an average of 5.5 yards per attempt. His rushing yardage was the 10th-best single-season mark in school history and only Archie Griffin gained more yards (1,577) as a sophomore.[2] His rushing total was the 11th highest in the NCAA last season and 5th best in the Big Ten Conference.[3] In addition to running, Pittman made 17 receptions for 161 yards in 2005.

In his first appearance, Pittman rushed for 100 yards on 14 carries against Miami University. His career-high is 186 yards in a game against the University of Minnesota, where he also scored his first touchdown of the season.[4]

He scored the winning touchdown in the 2005 game against the Michigan Wolverines. He ran around the Michigan defensive line for a three yard touchdown run came with just 24 seconds left in the game.[5]

In the next game, he clinched the 2006 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish by erupting for a 60 yard touchdown run with 1:46 left in the game, despite having an injured hamstring.[5]

In 2005 he became just the fourth sophomore in Ohio State annals to rush for 1,000 or more yards in a season, joining Archie Griffin, Vince Workman and Keith Byars.[5] Griffin is the only running back with better rushing statistics than Pittman, with 1,577 yards.

[edit] 2006

In 2006, quarterback Troy Smith said of Pittman, "Everybody knows who he is in the state of Ohio, but I think nationally, he’s one of the top three backs."[6]

Pittman has averaged over five yards per carry in his three seasons, playing in 35 games, rushing for an average of 84 yards per game.[7] He currently ranks 8th on Ohio State's all-time rushing list.

At the beginning of the 2006 season some called for split playing time between Pittman and freshman Chris Wells, another Akron native. However, Pittman's strong resume in 2005 and early successes guaranteed his role as starter.[8]

As the starting running back, Pittman displayed the ability to compile impressive statistics. In games against Northern Illinois, Cincinnati, Peen State, and Iowa he rushed for over 100 yards and scored touchdowns. Also, during the game at then #2 Texas he scored a touchdown.

Against the Florida Gators in the BCS National Championship, Pittman rushed for 62 yards and one of Ohio State's two scores.

On January 15, 2007, Pittman made the decision to forgo his senior year and declared himself eligible for the NFL Draft.

[edit] Career statistics

Year Team G Att Yards Avg TD
2004 Ohio State Buckeyes 10 72 381 5.3 1
2005 Ohio State Buckeyes 12 243 1,331 5.5 7
2006 Ohio State Buckeyes 13 242 1,275 5.3 14
Total 35 557 2,945 5.3 22

[edit] Professional career

[edit] 2007

Antonio Pittman was selected in the 4th round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. Pittman was cut on September 1, 2007. He was claimed off of waivers by the St. Louis Rams the next day.

Pittman appeared in his first game during the Rams Week 6 loss in Baltimore. He carried the ball five times for 11 yards averaged 2.2 yards.[9] Then during the Week 7 loss in Seattle, he carried the ball four times for eight yards, averaging 2.0 yards.[10] During the Week 10 win on the road against his old team the New Orleans Saints, Pittman had, statistically, his best game of the season, carrying the ball seven times for 53 yards, averaging 7.6 yards.[11] During the same game he also recorded his first career reception, which resulted in no yards gained or lost. During the Week 11 win in San Francisco, Pittman carried the ball three times for -2 yards.[12] In the Rams loss to the Seahawks in Week 12, Pittman rushed for 11 yards on five carries, averaging 2.2 yards.[13] During the Rams Week 13 win over the Atlanta Falcons, Pittman rushed four times for 11 yards, averaging 2.8 yards. He also had one catch for four yards.[14] During Week 14 loss in Cincinnati, Pittman rushed twice for 11 yards, averaging 5.5 yards. He also recorded one reception for 11 yards.[15] During Week 15 loss to the Green Bay Packers, Pittman had six carries for 31 yards, averaging 5.2 yards.[16] In his last appearance of the season, Week 16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittman had only two carries for five yards, averaging 2.5 yards.[17]

[edit] Career rushing

Pro. Career Off. Statistics Rushing Fumbles
Year Team G Att Yards AVG LNG TD FUM LOST
2007 St. Louis Rams 9 38 139 3.7 -- 0 0 0
Total 9 38 139 3.7 -- 0 0 0

[18]

Pro. Career Off. Statistics Receiving
Year Team G Rec Yards Y/R TD LNG
2007 St. Louis Rams 9 3 15 5.0 0 --
Total 9 3 15 5.0 0 --

[19]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Ohio State Department of Athletics (2006-09-23). "Under the Helmet with Antonio Pittman". Press release. Retrieved on 2006-11-12.
  2. ^ Record Book (Part 1)
  3. ^ NCAA Division I-A Rushing Leaders
  4. ^ empty
  5. ^ a b c empty
  6. ^ Gordon, Ken. "Ground Rules", Columbus Dispatch, 2006-08-31. Retrieved on 2006-08-31. 
  7. ^ Antonio Pittman Stats. DI Statistics. NCAA (2006-09-16). Retrieved on 2006-09-21.
  8. ^ Pluto, Terry. "Pittman well-suited for OSU", Akron Beacon Journal, 2006-09-17. Retrieved on 2006-09-21. 
  9. ^ Week 6 Stats (HTML). StLouisRams.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-09.
  10. ^ Week 7 Stats (HTML). StLouisRams.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-09.
  11. ^ Week 10 Stats (HTML). StLouisRams.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-09.
  12. ^ Week 11 Stats (HTML). StLouisRams.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-09.
  13. ^ Week 12 Stats (HTML). StLouisRams.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-09.
  14. ^ Week 13 Stats (HTML). StLouisRams.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-09.
  15. ^ Week 14 Stats (HTML). StLouisRams.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-09.
  16. ^ Week 15 Stats (HTML). StLouisRams.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-09.
  17. ^ Week 16 Stats (HTML). StLouisRams.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-09.
  18. ^ Player Stats (HTML). StLouisRams.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-09.
  19. ^ Player Stats (HTML). StLouisRams.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-09.

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Lydell Ross		 Ohio State Buckeyes
Starting Tailbacks
2005-2006		 Succeeded by
Chris Wells
v • d • e
Ohio State Buckeyes Football I-Formation Tailbacks
Griffin • Logan • Springs • Murray • Spencer • Byars • Wooldridge • Workman • Snow • Smith • Harris • George • Pearson • Wiley • Combs • J. Wells • Clarett • Ross • Pittman • C. Wells
v • d • e
New Orleans Saints 2007 NFL Draft selections