Player Profile

COLLEGE: In three years of college, Jason Witten went from being a defensive end prospect to a third round draft choice as one of college football's top all-around tight ends. In just two years, he became an emerging star and primary target in the Volunteers' passing game, finishing his career third among tight ends on the school's career reception list with 68 and fourth on the receiving yards list with 797. He was regarded by many as one of the best pass catching tight ends in college football, but his love of contact as a former high school linebacker shows up in his desire to search out defenders to deliver blocks up field for the ground game. Witten's size allows him to escape jams at the line and fight for the ball over the middle, while his speed and quickness allows him to outrun linebackers after the catch. He has also proven to be a prolific special teams player. At 21 years of age, Witten is the youngest player on the Cowboys' roster in 2003, having bypassed his final year of eligibility to test his wares in the pros.

2002: Witten closed out his collegiate career by establishing school records for receptions (39) and receiving yards (493) in a season by a tight end while adding five touchdowns. He was a consensus All-Southeastern Conference pick, as well as an Academic All-SEC honoree as he led the conference's tight ends in receptions and receiving yards. Witten was the only Vols receiver to record a catch in every game during the season, recording at least three catches in seven of 13 games. Not just a powerful presence on offense, Witten finished fourth on the team with eight special teams tackles. He started the season with four receptions for 28 yards against Wyoming. The following week against Middle Tennessee, he snared three passes for 55 yards and his first touchdown of the season. Witten recorded a season-high six catches for 61 yards and recovered an onside kick against Florida in the Vols SEC opener. Against Rutgers, he recorded a 13-yard touchdown catch and two special teams tackles. Witten was responsible for the winning touchdown in an epic six overtime 41-38 win against Arkansas when he hauled in a 25-yard scoring pass. That catch capped a night in which he recorded three receptions for a season-high 78 yards. Witten hauled in a touchdown catch in his third consecutive game with a five-yard scoring grab at Georgia. He recorded four catches for 36 yards against Alabama, then had a 28-yard catch against Miami before suffering bruised ribs. At South Carolina, Witten was the club's leading receiver with 72 yards on a season-high tying six receptions. He added a 29-yard scoring grab at Mississippi State. In the Peach Bowl against Maryland, Witten closed out his college career with five catches for 41 yards.

2001: Witten played in every game as a sophomore, starting three, and finished third on the team with 28 receptions for 293 yards (10.5 avg.) and a pair of touchdowns. He also recorded three tackles on special teams and recovered an onside kick. Witten opened the season with two catches for 10 yards against Syracuse, then added four catches for 14 yards at Arkansas. He recorded a career-high seven receptions for 91 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown catch, at Alabama. He added another scoring catch with a 17-yard touchdown against Memphis and had two receptions for 38 yards against Vanderbilt. In the SEC Championship Game against Louisiana State, Witten earned a start and collected 40 yards on three catches. He closed his break-out season in Tennessee's 45-17 thrashing of Michigan in the Florida Citrus Bowl by hauling in six passes for a career-high 125 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown catch.

2000: Because of a personnel shortage at tight end, Witten was given a crash course at that position as a freshman and installed in the lineup behind John Finlayson. A standout linebacker in high school, Witten had also been a four-year starter at tight end in high school, making the transition easier. He went on to see action in 11 games, starting twice. Witten was able to capitalize on his defensive expertise on special teams, recording eight tackles as a member of the coverage units. His lone reception of the season was for 11 yards against Louisiana-Monroe, a game in which he also had three special teams tackles.

PERSONAL: Christopher Jason Witten attended Elizabethton, Tenn., High School and was a consensus All-America selection (Prep Star, Parade, Gridiron Greats, USA Today, Blue Chip Illustrated, Street & Smith) and the USA Today Player of the Year for Tennessee as a senior. He was listed as the No. 1 prospect in Tennessee by the Knoxville News-Sentinel and the Chattanooga Times & Free Press. The East Tennessee Player of the Year, Region Defensive Player of the Year and runner-up for the Mr. Football award, Witten racked up 163 tackles, nine sacks, 27 tackles for loss, eight passes defensed, two interceptions, two blocked kicks, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries as a linebacker. He also played tight end, catching 26 passes for 345 yards and 14 touchdowns. A four-year starter at linebacker and tight end, Witten led his team to the state semi-finals three times and earned all-state honors his senior and junior years. He holds the school record for career tackles with 450. During the winter, he averaged 15 points and 12 rebounds-per-game for the basketball team. Witten was an Arts and Sciences major at Tennessee.