JC Latham, an Oak Creek native and former Catholic Memorial standout, taken No. 7 overall by Tennessee Titans in the 2024 NFL draft
Jeff PotrykusThe Tennessee Titans selected Alabama tackle JC Latham with the No. 7 pick of the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday.
A native of Oak Creek who played two seasons at Catholic Memorial High School before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida, was the second offensive lineman taken Thursday.
"It is amazing,” Latham said during ESPN’s draft coverage. “Alabama is the standard. You can’t replicate the dynasty of what we do over there. And being here now I get a chance to represent it."
What you need to know about JC Latham
Latham is 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds.
Latham played a total of 41 games over three seasons at Alabama. He played on special teams as a freshman in 2021 but started a combined 27 games at right tackle over the past two seasons.
He garnered first-team, all-SEC honors and was a second-team All-American.
According to Alabama officials, Latham recorded 41 knock-downs and allowed just two sacks as a junior.
How did JC Latham end up on the offensive line?
Curiously, Latham was an intriguing defensive line prospect when he transferred to IMG Academy. Injuries forced the staff to move Latham to offense and he quickly flourished and generally was considered the No. 1 offensive line prospect in his class.
What the draft analysts said about JC Latham
"You talk about a mountain of a man.,” ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said during the network's coverage. “He’s got the longest arms of anybody you’ll come across. He’s got massive hands. And he will destroy you at the point of attack.
“This kid has to cut down on the penalties. That comes with coaching."
ESPN analyst Louis Riddick gushed about Latham.
"I wish I could show you my notes from my iPad but it’s not suitable for network TV," Riddick said during the network's coverage. "This guy was an absolute monster. When he put his hands on you, it was over. Unbelievable athlete."
What did Tennessee coach Brian Callahan think of the pick?
"Just a really strong powerful big athletic human," Callahan told reporters. "There aren’t a lot of guys that look like him on Earth. So we like that."
How do the Titans plan to use JC Latham?
Titans general manager Ran Carthon told reporters Latham would start out at left tackle.
Latham expressed confidence he can switch sides.
"I was trained at left all my life," Latham told reporters who cover the Titans, "and I get to Bama, and Evan Neal, a top-10 pick, he was at left so I went to right ... Going back to left, I've been training all this offseason, so I'll be ready to go."
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