Rookies report to camp
By Steve Behr
sports@wataugademocrat.com

By the end of this weekend, rookies either drafted or signed as free agents will finish their first experience in the NFL.

It’s no different for the four Mountaineers who will visit camps. Wide receiver Dexter Jackson, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ No. 2 selection, and Cincinnati Bengals selection Corey Lynch, picked in the sixth round, will be visiting camps this weekend.

Also visiting camps are kicker Julian Rauch (Pittsburgh Steelers) and guard Kerry Brown (Washington Redskins).

The Carolina Panthers are also holding a rookie minicamp this weekend at its training facility just outside of Bank of America Stadium. Their top draft pick, Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart, is not expected to participate since he is recovering from turf-toe surgery.

Carolina’s other No. 1-draft pick, Pittsburgh tackle Jeff Otah, is expected to be there.

Otah, who stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 329 points, was born in Nigeria and his first sport, not surprisingly, was soccer.

He played basketball in high school before being convinced to give football a try.

“I played defense in high school,” Otah said. “I played two years, my freshman and sophomore years. I didn’t play my junior year and I broke my hand my senior year, so I missed most of the season. My offensive line year started in junior college.”

Otah confessed that after the Panthers picked Stewart, he was surprised to be picked by the team. In fact, he thought he was the victim of a joke when the Panthers called.

“I got a call from a guy who said ‘How would you like to be a Panther?’” I was thinking that the Eagles were picking now, so it must be a prank call. Then I talked to coach (John) Fox and I remembered his voice, so it was definitely a good feeling knowing that I was coming here.”