Poe was likened to Ryan Sims and Jimmy Kennedy, two highly rated lineman who "were incredibly gifted but failed due to inconsistent effort and competitiveness," according to the Sporting News. Poe's draft status peaked in March 2012, when he was ranked ninth by ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr. and sixth by Sports Illustrated's Don Banks. However, both teams that selected after the Ravens chose someone else.
After redshirting his first year at Missouri in 2006, Poe started every game at left guard for the Tigers from 2007 to 2011. He was named second-team All-American by Pro Football Weekly in 2010. The Baltimore Ravens selected him with the 27th pick in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He made an immediate impact for the team, starting all 16 games at right guard and helping rookie left tackle Michael Oher develop early on in his career.
Poe received several awards and honors during his college career, including being named to the College Football All-America Team by several publications. He also won the Jacobs Blocking Award each year he played at Missouri.
Besides football, Poe also competed in track & field while at Missouri. He qualified for the NCAA Division I Championships in the 100 meters three years in a row (2005-2007). His time of 10.54 seconds in the event is third among active runners.
Poe was born on January 4th, 1984 in New York City.
Poe, Dontari
| Free agent | |
|---|---|
| NFL Draft: | 2012 / Round: 1 / Pick: 11 |
| Career history | |
| Kansas City Chiefs (2012–2016) Atlanta Falcons (2017) Carolina Panthers (2018–2019) Dallas Cowboys (2020) | |
| Career highlights and awards |
Defensive lineman Dontari Poe/Position nose tackle for the Memphis Tigers in the NCAA. He was considered one of the best recruits in the country when he signed with Memphis in 2013. A four-star recruit from Houston (Texas) Lamar, Poe chose the Tigers over offers from Florida State, LSU, and Texas A&M.
Poe started 32 games at nose tackle for the Tigers, recording 51 tackles and 6 sacks. He entered the 2018 NFL Draft after his junior season, where he played in 12 games with 10 starts. He finished with 23 tackles and 3 sacks.
In April 2019, it was reported that Poe would be suspended for the first three games of the 2019 season for violating the school's drug abuse policy. The suspension will cost him $50,000 if he chooses to have it paid out in installments instead.
He is expected to be reinstated by the NFL after the completion of the suspension. If not, then he could lose up to $150,000 in salary if he decides to forgo his remaining two years of college eligibility and enter the draft early.
The Dallas Cowboys released defensive lineman Dontari Poe on Wednesday owing to his weight and lack of productivity, according to club owner Jerry Jones. The Cowboys' defense is now 27th in yards allowed per game (408.1) and lowest in the league in points allowed per game (34.7). Poe, who was drafted by the Cowboys in 2014 after playing four seasons at Louisville, was due $9 million this season.
Poe, a six-foot-four, 270-pounder, has only 4.5 sacks over two seasons with Dallas. He had 9.5 sacks in 32 games during three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before being released in September 2016.
"Dontari is a good person and a great player," said Cowboys coach Jason Garrett. "We have moved on and hope he has found success elsewhere."
Poe was considered one of the best interior linemen in football when he came out of Louisville in 2014. But he has struggled with weight issues throughout his career and did not live up to expectations or even half of what was expected of him. He played only eight games last season because of ankle and knee injuries and didn't record a single sack. The Cowboys invested a first-round pick in him back in 2014 and were hoping he would be the answer at outside linebacker but they ended up trading for Bruce Carter instead.
The New York Giants selected Gary Zimmerman, an offensive tackle from the United States Football League, third overall. The Philadelphia Eagles selected Reggie White, a defensive end from the USFL, fourth overall. "The NFL will choose 'untouchables'" (Oregon). The Associated Press, 5 June 1984, p. 4B. The NFL has expressed a strong interest in USFL players. "We're going after their best athletes - quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs, and linebackers." The USFL requires its players to be under contract for the following season if they want to be eligible for awards.
Zimmerman had been drafted by the Oakland Raiders but refused to sign with them. He went on to play for the Giants. White signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers but was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles before playing a game for them.
The USFL only lasted one season before merging with the NFL. However, several former USFL players did play in the NFL after the merger. They are recognized by the league as having been drafted in 1984. This includes Zimmerman who was not released by the Giants prior to the start of the season. He played eight games for them at left offensive tackle before being waived/injured. He returned to the Giants the next year and played another eight games before being placed on injured reserve. He finished his only season in the NFL with the Giants by starting two games at right offensive guard. Zimmerman was not re-signed by the team after the season ended and never played another game in the NFL or any other league for that matter.
Brian Orakpo was chosen in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. The Redskins gave up their sixth-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft in exchange for their selection in the Supplemental Draft. Perry Riley was selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft in 2010. Ryan Kerrigan was the 16th overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft. This all-rookie team won its first game of the season, a 23-20 victory over the New York Giants.
Orakpo played defensive end at Miami University. The Redskins switched him to outside linebacker when they added him to their roster. He started 31 games over the past three seasons and made 533 tackles, 51 sacks and 21 interceptions. He received All-American honors from College Football News and Sports Illustrated and was named First Team All-Big East after leading the conference with 15 sacks.
Orakpo was credited with 33 tackles and 7 sacks as a rookie. He was voted Second Team All-Pro and was nominated for the Fred Biletnikoff Award before falling to Chris Jones in voting conducted by members of the Pro Football Writers Association.
The Redskins used their first-round pick on Tyler Polumbus from California. They also selected Kyshon Grier from South Florida with their second-round choice. Both players signed contracts worth approximately $1 million dollars.
Polumbus started 11 games at left guard for the Golden Bears last season.
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