Haloti Ngata

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Haloti Ngata
refer to caption
Haloti Ngata at a 2009 training camp.
No. 92 Detroit Lions
Position: Defensive tackle
Personal information
Date of birth: (1984-01-21) January 21, 1984 (age 40)
Place of birth: Inglewood, California
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Career information
High school: Salt Lake City (UT) Highland
College: Oregon
NFL draft: 2006 / Round: 1 / Pick: 12
Career history
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 7, 2015
Total tackles: 453
Sacks: 26.5
Forced fumbles: 6
Fumble recoveries: 5
Interceptions: 5
Player stats at NFL.com

Etuini Haloti Ngata (IPA: [ˈŋata]; born January 21, 1984) is an American football defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Oregon and earned consensus All-American honors. Ngata was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft, and has been selected for the Pro Bowl five times. Ngata played for the Ravens for nine seasons before being traded to the Lions before the 2015 NFL season.

Early years

Ngata, of Tongan ancestry,[1] was born in Inglewood, California. He attended Highland High School in Salt Lake City, Utah and was a three-year starter on the defensive line. As a senior, he recorded over 200 tackles and led his team to the state quarterfinals, following a 12-2 record and a berth in the State Championship as a junior. Ngata was named the 2001 Utah Gatorade Player of the Year and a first-team USA Today All-USA selection.[2] He played in the 2002 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Ngata was listed as a five-star recruit and the No. 2 overall prospect in the nation by Rivals.com.[3] He chose Oregon over BYU, Nebraska, Texas A&M, and Washington.

Ngata also played rugby in high school, and helped lead the Highland Rugby Club to the National Rugby Championship. He was red carded in the championship match.[4]

College career

A devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Ngata said he felt most at home at Brigham Young University, but struggled to make his college decision. He eventually signed a national letter of intent to play for the Oregon Ducks football team of the University of Oregon.[5] Ngata tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) on a punt coverage play in 2003 and missed the rest of that season. But over the next two seasons, Ngata became one of the best players in college football. Ngata totaled 107 tackles, 17.5 tackles for a loss, and 6.5 sacks total in the 2004 and 2005 seasons. He was a second-team All-Pac-10 selection in 2004, a first-team All-Pac-10 selection in 2005. Following his senior season in 2005, he was recognized as the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus first-team All-American, Oregon's first in 43 years. Ngata also earned praise as a dangerous special teams player, blocking 7 kicks during his 3-year career at Oregon.

He had a 495 lb (225 kg) bench press max, which ranks second all-time among Oregon Ducks football players, behind only Igor Olshansky's 505 lb (229 kg).

Professional career

2006 NFL Draft

Ngata decided to leave Oregon a year early because his mother, 'Ofa, was in the early stages of kidney dialysis. She died from her illness on January 13, 2006.[6]

Ngata was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round (12th overall) in the 2006 NFL Draft. It was the first time in franchise history the Ravens used a first round pick on a defensive lineman. Ngata became the highest selected defensive lineman from the current Pac-12 conference since Andre Carter in 2001.

Pre-draft measurables
Ht Wt 40-yd dash 10-yd split 20-yd split 20-ss 3-cone Vert Broad BP
6 ft 4⅛ in 338 lb 5.13 s 1.73 s 2.96 s 4.69 s 7.97 s 31½ in 9 ft 2 in 37 reps
All values from NFL Combine[7]

Baltimore Ravens

Early career

On July 28, 2006, Ngata ended a brief contract holdout by agreeing to a 5-year contract worth up to $14 million with the Baltimore Ravens. In his rookie season, he started in all 16 games and finished the campaign with 31 tackles, one sack and an interception. The following season, he made 63 tackles and three sacks. Ngata had two interceptions in 2008.[8]

Ngata (far left), Ray Lewis, and Terrell Suggs chase down Pittsburgh Steelers running back Willie Parker in 2006.

2008

In the 2008 season, Ngata started all 16 regular season and three postseason games. He led the Ravens defensive line with 77 total tackles (43 Solo, 34 Assist), one sack, a career-high 2 Interceptions, and 5 passes deflected as part of the NFL's #2 passing defense. He was named to the Pro Bowl as a first alternate and earned Second-Team All-Pro honors by the Associated Press for the first time in his career.

2009

During the 2009 season, Ngata started all 16 Ravens regular season and both post-season games. During the regular season, he recorded 36 tackles, of which 26 were unassisted and 1.5 sacks.[9] He was selected for the first time in his career to play in the NFL Pro Bowl.

2010

After an outstanding 2010 season which included 63 tackles and 5.5 sacks, Ngata was selected to the 2010 All-Fundamentals Team by USA Football and the NFL Players Association.[10]

2011

On February 15, the Ravens placed their franchise tag on Ngata.[11] On September 20, he was signed to a 5-year deal worth $61 million.[12]

The Ravens opened the 2011 season at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 11. In the game Ngata forced a fumble and tipped a pass that led to a Ray Lewis interception; the Ravens won 35-7.[13] Two weeks later against the St. Louis Rams, Ray Lewis sacked Sam Bradford. Bradford fumbled, and the ball was recovered by Ngata who scored his first career regular season touchdown.[14]

On October 2, 2011, during the Ravens game against the New York Jets, Ngata sacked Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez, causing Sanchez to fumble the ball. Ravens linebacker Jarrett Johnson picked up the fumble and returned it for a touchdown. The Ravens won the game 34-17. After reviewing the hit, the NFL levied a $15,000 fine against Ngata for roughing the passer even though no penalty was called by officials during the game.[15]

Ngata finished the season with a career-high 64 tackles (36 unassisted), along with 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 5 passes defended. Ngata also earned his third straight Pro Bowl appearance.

Ngata is known throughout the NFL for being a very versatile player.[citation needed] He mainly lines up at strongside defensive end in the Baltimore Ravens 3-4 base defense, but sometimes lines up at nose tackle. In their 4-2 nickel package, he lines up at defensive tackle. This versatility makes Ngata one of the most dominant defensive linemen in the NFL.[according to whom?]

2012

During the 2012 season Ngata played mostly defensive tackle and sometimes defensive end, collecting 5 sacks and 51 tackles overall. Ngata played in all four games of the Ravens 2012 postseason, recording 10 solo tackles and 3 assisted tackles as he helped the Ravens to victory in Super Bowl XLVII

2013

In 2013, Ngata played mostly as a nose tackle making 33 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 3 passes defended in 15 games played.

File:Haloti Ngata throwing first pitch at Orioles game.jpg
Ngata throws the first pitch at a Baltimore Orioles game in August, 2012.

2014

On August 29, 2014, Ngata was fined $8,268 for intentionally kicking Washington Redskins guard Shawn Lauvao during the final preseason game.

On December 4, 2014, Ngata was suspended for four games after he violated the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.[16]

Detroit Lions

2015

On March 10, 2015, Ngata was traded to the Detroit Lions to play defensive tackle.[17]

NFL stats

Detroit

Year Team GP COMB TOTAL AST SACK FF FR FR YDS INT IR YDS AVG IR LNG TD PD
2006 BAL 16 31 13 18 1.0 0 0 0 1 60 60 60 0 1
2007 BAL 16 63 43 20 3.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
2008 BAL 16 55 43 12 1.0 0 0 0 2 8 4 7 0 5
2009 BAL 14 35 25 10 1.5 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
2010 BAL 16 63 46 17 5.5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
2011 BAL 16 64 36 28 5.0 2 3 28 0 0 0 0 0 5
2012 BAL 14 51 33 18 5.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
2013 BAL 15 52 23 29 1.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
2014 BAL 12 31 19 12 2.0 2 0 0 2 16 8 13 0 7
Career 135 445 281 164 25.5 6 5 0 5 84 17 60 0 30

[18]

Key

  • GP: games played
  • COMB: combined tackles
  • TOTAL: total tackles
  • AST: assisted tackles
  • SACK: sacks
  • FF: forced fumbles
  • FR: fumble recoveries
  • FR YDS: fumble return yards
  • INT: interceptions
  • IR YDS: interception return yards
  • AVG IR: average interception return
  • LNG: longest interception return
  • TD: interceptions returned for touchdown
  • PD: passes defensed

Personal

Ngata was born in Inglewood, California, to Solomone Ngata and 'Ofa (née Moala),[19] who had emigrated from Tonga to the United States in the early 1970s.[20][21] He has two older brothers, Solomone Jr. and Finau, a younger brother, Vili, and a younger sister, Ame.[21] Haloti Ngata was named after his maternal uncle, Haloti Moala-Liava'a, who was a middle linebacker for the Utah Utes (1984–1988).[19][21] The family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1990.[21] In December 2002, Ngata's father died in a single-vehicle truck accident, while trying to climb the on-ramp to Interstate 80 from Route 215 just outside Salt Lake City.[21] His mother, having battled with Chronic Kidney Disease/Diabetic Nephropathy for years, died in January 2006.[20]

Ngata's extended family includes numerous athletes. One of his cousins, Tevita Moala, was a starting linebacker on Oregon State's 2000 Fiesta Bowl team.[22] Another cousin, Fili Moala, was an All-American defensive lineman at Southern California (2004–2008), and now plays for the Indianapolis Colts. Ngata is also a distant relative of basketball player Jabari Parker.[23]

Ngata resides in Finksburg, Maryland with his wife Christina Ngata (née Adams) whom he married in June 2007. The couple has three sons, Solomon (born July 2009)—named after his late grandfather—,[24] Haloti Maximus (born August 2012) and Colt (born January 2014).[25][26]

References

  1. ↑ Lisiate Wolfgramm, "Gentle Giant", Planet-Tonga.com, undated.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NgatHa20/gamelog/2009/
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Ravens: Ngata scores a touchdown, Carroll County Times Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2014/12/04/haloti-ngata-suspended-for-4-games-violated-nfl-policy-on/
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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