Rutgers NFL draft bios: Pedro Sosa and Jeremy Zuttah

By Darrell Laurant  |   Sunday, February 03, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article!

It would be fitting if the same NFL team were to draft both Pedro Sosa and Jeremy Zuttah. It's not going to happen, but it would keep a perfectly matched set together.

For the past three years, Sosa and Zuttah have been a team in themselves: Both tackles, both All-Big East, both New Jersey guys who rejected more established programs to sign with Rutgers.

They were invited to the East-West Shrine Game together, and they will probably be shifted to guard together at the next level. As 2007 starters, they had a lot to do with the Scarlet Knights' school-record 269 first downs and 5,246 yards in total offense. And, with a total of 18 sacks allowed in two years.

There is very little doubt that both Zuttah (out of Edison, N.J.) and Sosa (from Union City) will be playing on Sundays next season. They have the size (Sosa is 6-foot-5, 290; Zuttah 6-3, 295), the strength, the toughness and the college credentials. Both have 40 times just a shade over 5.0, although Zuttah's average has settled into the 5.20 range.

Sosa adds an 83-inch wingspan, having averaged a double double as a center in high school basketball. Zuttah, meanwhile, was quick enough to play defensive end in high school.

In 2007, Rutgers became the first team in Division I-A history to produce a 2,000-yard rusher (Rice), a 3,000-yard passer (Mike Teel) and two 1,000-yard receivers (Tiquan Underwood and Kenny Britt). An offense can't put up those kinds of numbers without one heck of a line.

All the preseason previews for 2008 will be speculating how Rutgers will replace star running back Ray Rice. But it can be argued that Sosa and Zuttah will leave a bigger hole in the lineup.
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article! (0)

About Darrell Laurant

...Sorry, Darrell Laurant's bio is currently not available. Please check back soon!
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report