Jake Witt

Witt was born on February 7, 2000.{{Cite web |url = https://nmuwildcats.com/sports/football/roster/jake-witt/5560 |publisher = Northern Michigan Wildcats |title = Jake Witt |access-date = March 22, 2023 |archive-date = March 22, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230322232233/https://nmuwildcats.com/sports/football/roster/jake-witt/5560 |url-status = live }} He grew up in the small town of Bruce Crossing, Michigan which is located east of Duluth by three hours and south of Lake Superior by approximately 30 minutes.{{Cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4330488/2023/03/22/nfl-draft-2023-jake-witt/ |website = The Athletic |url-access = subscription |title = The Rapid Rise of 2023 NFL Draft Prospect Jake Witt: 'He's Going to Be Drafted' |last = Brugler |first = Dane |date = March 22, 2023 |access-date = March 22, 2023 |archive-date = March 22, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230322200006/https://theathletic.com/4330488/2023/03/22/nfl-draft-2023-jake-witt/ |url-status = live }} The town did not have any football teams, not even pee-wee youth leagues. He began playing basketball in second grade and continued through high school.

Witt was a standout athlete at Ewen-Trout Creek High School, at which he played basketball and track, and, starting as a junior, football.{{Cite news |url = https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2022/12/08/nmu-offensive-tackle-declares-nfl-draft/ |work = Upper Michigan's Source |location = Negaunee, Michigan |publisher = WLUC-TV |title = NMU Offensive Tackle Declares for NFL Draft |date = December 8, 2022 |access-date = March 22, 2023 |archive-date = March 22, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230322205719/https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2022/12/08/nmu-offensive-tackle-declares-nfl-draft/ |url-status = live }} He played for the school's eight-man football team (they did not have a full team, as they did not have enough players) and playing wide receiver, recorded 102 receptions in 18 games while being named all-state.{{Cite web |url = https://www.mhsaa.com/sports/boys-basketball/stories/jake-witt-ups-best-kept-secret |publisher = Michigan High School Athletic Association |title = Jake Witt: The UP's Best-Kept Secret |date = December 22, 2017 |last = Grall |first = Dennis |access-date = March 22, 2023 |archive-date = March 23, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230323005227/https://www.mhsaa.com/sports/boys-basketball/stories/jake-witt-ups-best-kept-secret |url-status = live }} Witt initially received attention from colleges for basketball, but he generated interest from schools for football as well. As a senior, he concentrated on basketball and he was subsequently named the Upper Peninsula Mr. Basketball. He finished his high school career with over 1,000 points scored and over 1,000 rebounds.{{Cite news |url = https://www.mininggazette.com/sports/local-sports/2018/02/witt-is-unique-to-e-tcs-strong-history-of-guards/ |newspaper = The Daily Mining Gazette |location = Houghton, Michigan |title = Witt is unique to E-TC's strong history of guards |date = February 6, 2018 |last = Juno |first = Jason |access-date = March 22, 2023 |archive-date = March 23, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230323005227/https://www.mininggazette.com/sports/local-sports/2018/02/witt-is-unique-to-e-tcs-strong-history-of-guards/ |url-status = live }} Witt was valedictorian of his class.{{Cite magazine |url = https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-draft-northern-michigan-ot-jake-witt-runs-sub-4-8 |magazine = Sports Illustrated |title = NFL Draft: Northern Michigan OT Jake Witt Runs Sub-4.8 |date = February 4, 2023 |last = Marchionte |first = Bo |access-date = March 22, 2023 |archive-date = March 23, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230323012803/https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-draft-northern-michigan-ot-jake-witt-runs-sub-4-8 |url-status = live }}

After graduating from high school, Witt had a decision to make about college – not just about which to attend, but also about what sports to play. "[It] came down to Michigan Tech for basketball, Northern Michigan [NMU] for football or [to] take my preferred walk-on spot at Central Michigan," he later said. "So two of my final three choices were football. But I decided to go the basketball route." Witt announced his commitment to Michigan Tech in November 2017,{{Cite news |url = https://www.mininggazette.com/sports/local-sports/2017/11/e-tcs-jake-witt-signs-nli-to-play-basketball-at-michigan-tech/ |newspaper = The Daily Mining Gazette |location = Houghton, Michigan |title = E-TC's Jake Witt Signs NLI to Play Basketball at Michigan Tech |date = November 9, 2017 |last = Juno |first = Jason |access-date = March 22, 2023 |archive-date = March 23, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230323010159/https://www.mininggazette.com/sports/local-sports/2017/11/e-tcs-jake-witt-signs-nli-to-play-basketball-at-michigan-tech/ |url-status = live }} and played his first season in 2018, posting an average of 6.4 points-per-game. According to The Athletic, he "appeared to have a bright future" with the team, but as a sophomore decided to change his major, which also meant in his case changing schools.

Witt transferred to NMU, and started pursuing a sports and fitness management degree. After not playing sports for a year, he decided he wanted to try out football again in 2020. He joined the team at tight end but soon after the season was canceled due to COVID-19. The following year, with activities being resumed, he played but was mainly used as a blocker, having compiled only 79 receiving yards on six catches through the year's first eight matches.

At halftime during their mid-season game against the eventual national champions Ferris State, Witt was told that he needed to play offensive lineman because of injuries to NMU teammates. He was selected because no one else wanted to play the position, and because his size ({{convert|6|ft|7|in|m|disp=sqbr|abbr=on}}, {{convert|265|lb|kg|disp=sqbr||abbr=on}}) made him the best player for the position among remaining members of the team. He had never played the position before, but "after 10 minutes of coaching Jake to play a whole new position, he allowed zero sacks or pressures against the best defensive line in the country," said coach Dylan Chmura. It took "five or six" practice repetitions for him to get the correct stance, and that was the only preparation Witt had before he went up against undefeated Ferris State and their lineman Caleb Murphy, among the top players in Division II.

"The film was silly," Witt later said. "I looked like a basketball player out there trying to defend someone. I didn't know what else to do." He played the last two games of the year as NMU's starting right tackle and after the season his coaches decided he would stay on the line for 2022, although on the left side, instead of the right. Witt gained 15 pounds to prepare for the 2022 season and appeared in 11 games, all as a starter. In December 2022, he declared for the NFL draft.{{Cite news |url = https://www.upmatters.com/sports/ncaa/nmus-jake-witt-talks-decision-to-declare-for-nfl-draft/ |work = UPMatters.com |location = Marquette, Michigan |publisher = WJMN-TV |title = NMU's Jake Witt Talks Decision to Declare for NFL Draft |last = Durant |first = Jake |date = December 9, 2022 |access-date = March 22, 2023 |archive-date = March 23, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230323012804/https://www.upmatters.com/sports/ncaa/nmus-jake-witt-talks-decision-to-declare-for-nfl-draft/ |url-status = live }}

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 7 1/8

| weight = 302

| dash = 4.89

| ten split = 1.71

| twenty split = 2.76

| shuttle = 4.62

| cone drill = 7.44

| vertical = 37.0

| broad ft = 10

| broad in = 3

| bench = 22

| arm span = 33 1/2

| hand span = 10 1/8

| note = Sources:{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/jake-witt/32005749-5436-4970-1de4-f50308ff2d91 |title=Jake Witt Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=May 2, 2023}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1092047&DraftYear=2023 |title=2023 NFL Draft Scout Jake Witt College Football Profile |access-date=May 2, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}

}}

Witt declined an opportunity to participate in the College Gridiron Showcase, as he wanted more time to prepare himself to show his talents to National Football League (NFL) teams. Although not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, he began receiving attention from NFL teams after impressing at his pro day. Witt's 4.89-second 40-yard dash would have placed first at the combine for his position, as well as his {{convert|37|in|cm|adj=on}} vertical jump; additionally, his {{convert|10|ft|3|in|m|adj=on}} broad jump would have been the longest for a lineman in the past decade. He also was given a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.92, which was the 11th-best out of 1,233 offensive tackles going back to 1987.

In the 2023 NFL draft, Witt was selected in the seventh round, 236th overall, by the Indianapolis Colts, the first Wildcat drafted since Mark Maddox in 1991.{{cite news |last1=Crawford |first1=Kirkland |title=Northern Michigan OL Jake Witt Picked by Colts in Round 7 of NFL Draft |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/2023/04/29/northern-michigan-nfl-draft-jake-witt-indianapolis-colts-round-7/70167013007/ |access-date=April 29, 2023 |work=Detroit Free Press |date=April 29, 2023}}{{Cite web |title=Northern Michigan Drafted Players/Alumni |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/nomichigan/drafted.htm |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He was placed on season-ending injured reserve on August 5, 2023 with a hip injury.{{Cite web |date=August 5, 2023 |title=Colts sign TEs Nick Eubanks, Michael Jacobson, place OT Jake Witt on injured reserve, waive RB Toriano Clinton |url=https://www.colts.com/news/jake-witt-injured-reserve-toriano-clinton-waived-tight-ends-signed |access-date=2024-07-20 |website=Colts.com}}

On August 27, 2024, Witt was released by the Colts.{{cite web |last1=Bretl |first1=Paul |title=Colts reportedly waiving OT Jake Witt as part of roster cuts |url=https://coltswire.usatoday.com/2024/08/27/colts-reportedly-waiving-ot-jake-witt-as-part-of-roster-cuts/ |website=ColtsWire |publisher=USA Today |access-date=August 27, 2024}} After being released, Witt announced his retirement from football.{{Cite news|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2024/08/28/colts-ot-jake-witt-retires-turns-down-practice-squad-opportunities/74983759007/|newspaper=The Indianapolis Star|title=Colts offensive lineman Jake Witt retires, turns down practice squad opportunities|author=Erickson, Joel A.|date=August 28, 2024}}

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Category:2000 births

Category:Living people

Category:American football tight ends

Category:American football wide receivers

Category:American football offensive tackles

Category:Players of American football from Michigan

Category:Michigan Tech Huskies men's basketball players

Category:Northern Michigan Wildcats football players

Category:Indianapolis Colts players