BYU football: Pitta wins AFC North Comeback Player of the Year

Former BYU football star Dennis Pitta has won the AFC North Comeback Player of the Year Award. Pitta nearly swept the voting.

Dennis Pitta is one of the best tight ends to ever suit up for BYU football. The 6-foot-5, 250-pounder caught 221 passes for 2,901 yards and 21 touchdowns for the Cougars.

He was selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens in 2010 and won Super Bowl 47 with the club. In fact, Pitta played a crucial role in the game, catching four passes for 26 yards and a touchdown.

He fractured his right hip in 2013 and 2014, playing in just seven games over the two years. Pitta sat out all of the 2015 season, and many were questioning if he’d retire.

Instead, Pitta put together what might be his best season.

Pitta led all tight ends in receptions with 86. He had 729 receiving yards (a career high) and two touchdowns. But perhaps more impressive was that he played in all 16 games for Baltimore.

ESPN.com’s four AFC North beat writers voted on the award. Jamison Hensley (Baltimore Ravens), Pat McManamon (Cleveland Browns) and Katherine Terell (Cincinnati Bengals) all voted for Pitta. Only Jeremy Fowler (Pittsburgh Steelers) did not – instead voting for Le’Veon Bell.

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McManamon called Pitta’s journey a “testament to perseverance and dedication.”

2017 will be Pitta’s eighth year in the NFL. The former BYU football star has 224 receptions for 2,098 yards and 13 touchdowns in his career.

The Baltimore Ravens finished 8-8 on the season.