Dontari Poe

Dontari Poe (born August 18, 1990) is a former American football nose tackle in the National Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys.

Poe played for the Memphis Tigers football team of the University of Memphis from 2009 to 2011.

As a redshirt freshman in 2009, he played in 11 of 12 games for the Tigers—he did not play against Houston (November 21) due to a death in his family—including six starts at nose tackle, and finished the year with 27 tackles, including 18 solo stops.

He led the team in tackles for losses with seven, and tied for the team lead in forced fumbles with three.

He also added two quarterback sacks, which tied for third-most.

His performance earned him a Conference USA All-Freshman Team selection.

In his sophomore year, Poe became a consistent starter on the defensive line.

He was one of six Tigers to start all 12 games in 2010, and ended the year ranked fifth on the team in tackles with 41, and fourth in TFL with 6.5 (for a total loss of 27 yards).

In the season opener against Mississippi State, he registered three tackles (all solo stops), all of which limited the Bulldogs to three or fewer yards, including one that was for a loss of four yards.

In a game versus UTEP, Poe had a season-high seven tackles, four of which limited the Miners to fewer than three yards.

He also managed to sack UTEP quarterback Trevor Vittatoe on a 3rd-and-8 in the first quarter for a loss of five yards.

In October at Louisville, Poe registered six tackles (four solo).

In recognition of his successful season, Poe earned an All-Conference-USA honorable mention.

Prior to his junior season, he drew attention for his weight room performance and was named one of the "10 strongest men in college football" by ESPN's Bruce Feldman.

During the season, Poe started all 12 games on the defensive line and recorded at least one tackle in each game, tallying 33 tackles, 18 of which were solo stops.

He also ranked third on the team with eight TFLs (for a loss of 26 yards).

In November, in a game against Marshall, Poe tied his career high in tackles with eight.

He was selected second-team All-Conference USA, and was listed as an honorable mention All-America pick by Pro Football Weekly, which evaluates players on NFL prospects and draft value rather just college production.

On December 23, 2011, Poe announced that he would forgo his senior season and enter the 2012 NFL Draft.

Soon thereafter, he announced that he signed with agent Jimmy Sexton of Creative Artists Agency.

He concluded his college career having played in 35 contests (30 starts), recording 101 tackles (57 unassisted), 21.5 TFL, five sacks, four pass break-ups and four forced fumbles.

Can you believe he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.98 seconds?

Poe looks like a refrigerator.

He's not supposed to move like that.

The most impressive part was his first 10 yards.

He showed some explosiveness, and forgive me for saying this, but I saw a little bit of myself in him.

Entering the NFL Combine as a potential first rounder, Poe impressed with an "epic workout performance" according to ESPN's Todd McShay, who afterwards projected him to go as high as No. 11 to the Kansas City Chiefs.

NFL.com draft analyst Mike Mayock upgraded Poe from No. 3 to No. 1 in his defensive tackle positional ranking.

He played college football at Memphis and was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs 11th overall in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Though primarily a defensive lineman, at 6 ft 3 in and 346 lbs, he is also known for being the largest player to either rush or pass for a touchdown while also having a 100% pass completion percentage, passing TD, and rushing TD.

Poe entered Wooddale High School in Memphis, Tennessee, without any prior football experience.

His coach, Cedric Miller, had spotted Poe practicing with the marching band in the summer before Poe's freshman year at Wooddale, and told him to report to football practice the next day.

By his junior season, he was an all-state honorable mention defensive lineman and credited with 63 tackles and eight sacks.

Besides his hometown school Memphis, he was recruited by Auburn, Colorado, and Mississippi.

Ole Miss invited him to their annual Junior Day.

Particularly keen on early playing time, Poe also liked Auburn, because "they have two defensive tackles Quentin Groves and Pat Sims that are leaving early, so there is a good chance I will play early if I go there."

Also a talented shot putter, Poe earned the Class 3-A title at the state meet with a throw of 56 ft as a junior.

In his senior year, he defended his title with a throw of 54 ft, and also won the discus throw in the state meet with a personal best throw of 156 ft. Poe claimed city, district and region track titles as a senior.

Poe was regarded only as a two-star prospect by both Rivals.com and Scout.com.

He was ranked No. 92 by Scout, in a crop of defensive tackles that was highlighted by Marcus Forston and DeAngelo Tyson, while Rivals did not have him listed among their top 75 defensive tackles, but as the No. 19 overall prospect out of Tennessee.