When Haloti Ngata straps on a Baltimore Ravens helmet for the team?s first game in September, he will do so with a heart fresh from the wounds of personal loss.
The 12th overall selection in this past weekend?s National Football League Draft is still recovering from the death of his mother this past January during a surgery. The tragedy came just years after his father died in a car accident.
“This will be the first time I?m not playing in front of my mom and dad together, you know physically, but I know they?re going to be there spiritually. That?s just going to bring a lot more fire inside to my game,” the former University of Oregon defensive tackle said.
The Ravens? decision to draft Ngata was met with some skepticism by some television analysts who questioned the heart of the 330-pound lineman. Some experts have said that Ngata has taken plays off, in the past, riding on his natural ability. Ravens? general manager Ozzie Newsome said that was not a concern.
“He?s on a defense where everybody runs to the football, so that?s not a concern,” Newsome said.
“For me, I think it?s always been that I release a lot of anger and stress on the field just because I am a low, mellow kind of guy. I love this game so much that it doesn?t really take that much for me to turn on that switch,” Ngata said.
Other picks for the Ravens on Saturday were Chris Chester (second round, 56th overall, Oklahoma) and David Pittman (third round, 87th overall, Northwestern State). On Sunday, the Ravens took Demetrius Williams (Oregon, wide receiver) and P.J. Daniels (Georgia Tech, running back) in the fourth round. Then they took Dawan Landry (safety, Georgia Tech) and Quinn Sypnieski (tight end, Colorado) in the fifth round.
When asked about being selected by the Ravens, Ngata seemed thrilled and sounded like he had gone on a college recruiting trip, rather than meeting a future employer.
“I loved the area and I met the coaches. They?re a great group of guys on the defensive coaching staff. I met with the head coach and he?s a real good guy and the GM was just a really cool guy. I loved meeting with them. I just had a good time out there.”
Ngata said he was looking forward to playing with and learning from Ravens? linebacker Ray Lewis, who has been vocal about adding size on the defensive line.
“He?s the best in the NFL. I am happy that I have a great leader to play with and alongside,” Ngata said. “It?s just going to be a great, great time to be a Baltimore Raven.”
THE NGATA FILE
College: Oregon
Position: Defensive tackle
Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah
Did you know? Ngata was taken as the 12th overall pick by the Ravens on Saturday. Baltimore originally had the 13th pick, but made a move with the Cleveland Browns to get pick No. 12.
