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Jamari Lattimore? From unknown to standout

By Raymond Rivard

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Jamari Lattimore

Jamari Lattimore

Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports photograph

PERSONAL: Given name Jamari Lattimore; nickname is “Latt”…Born in Miami…Single…High school: Named team MVP as a senior at Miami Lakes (Fla.) High School…Voted honorable mention 6A-4A All-Dade…Played LB, DE, TE, WR and T…Also lettered two years in track, competing in the 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 4×100-meter relay and 4×400-meter relay…Community involvement: Helped build homes and worked with special-needs children while in college…Hobbies/interests: Enjoys playing video games, naming “Call of Duty” as his favorite…Lists LeBron James as his favorite athlete, Family Guy as his favorite TV show and Transformers as his favorite movie…Enjoys listening to Rick Ross, TI and Jay-Z…Residence: Atlanta.

  • Has evolved into one of the club’s core players on special teams, having played in a career-high 14 games in 2012 and tying for fourth on the team with a career-best 10 coverage tackles, also recovering an onside kick.
  • Was voted by his teammates as one of six postseason captains on the eve of the 2012 playoffs, joining CB Jarrett Bush as the two representatives for the special teams units.
  • Made the transition from outside linebacker as a rookie in 2011 to the inside in 2012 and continues to provide depth at both positions.
  • Joined S M.D. Jennings and LB Vic So’oto as one of three rookie free agents to make the Packers’ opening-day roster in 2011.
  • Was named the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2010 after posting a career-high 68 tackles (15 for loss), 11½ sacks, two forced fumbles, two blocked kicks and a fumble recovery.
  • Finished No. 2 all-time in Middle Tennessee State school history with 20½ career sacks despite only playing three seasons, a mark that trailed only former Packers teammate Erik Walden’s career total of 22½.


Pro Highlights:

  • A core special teams player who was voted by teammates as one of six playoff captains prior to the 2012 postseason, serving as one of two representatives for the special teams.
  • Originally made the team as an outside linebacker in 2011, but spent his first offseason transitioning to the inside positions, where he played in 2012.
  • Played in a career-high 14 games in 2012, tying for fourth on the club with a career-best 10 special teams tackles, also recovering an onside kick.
  • Signed by the Packers as a non-drafted free agent on July 28, 2011, and became one of three undrafted rookies to make the club’s opening-day roster out of training camp.
  • Made the team after playing in each of the four preseason games, registering eight tackles (four solo) and a sack during exhibition play.
  • Made the transition from collegiate DE to professional OLB upon his arrival to Green Bay.
  • Appeared in nine games as a rookie in 2011, seeing almost all of his playing time come on special teams, where he collected four coverage tackles during the season.


2012 SEASON: Emerged in just his second season as one of the club’s leaders on special teams, playing in a career-high 14 games and appearing on all four core units…Tied for fourth on the team with a career-high 10 coverage tackles and also recovered an onside kick at St. Louis in Week 7…Was voted by his teammates as one of six playoff captains prior to the start of the 2012 postseason, joining CB Jarrett Bush as the two representatives for the special teams…Made the transition from OLB to ILB during the offseason program, his second position switch in as many years (collegiate DE to LB as a rookie in 2011)…Provided depth at both inside positions throughout the season…At St. Louis (Oct. 21): Recorded his first coverage stop of the season and also recovered a surprise onside kick by K Mason Crosby in the first quarter. The recovery was the end of a hustle play that saw him come from the opposite side of the field to corral the ball after Rams CB Trumaine Johnson lost control of it. The possession led to a 47-yard Crosby FG that extended Green Bay’s lead to 10-3…Vs. Jacksonville (Oct. 28): Was part of another impactful play when the punt return unit blocked a second-quarter attempt by P Bryan Anger and saw LB Dezman Moses fall on it for a TD. Teamed with LB Robert Francois to occupy blockers when they rushed off the left edge, freeing CB Davon House to make the clean block of Anger’s kick…At Detroit (Nov. 18): Led the team with a career-high three coverage tackles, making two on the kickoff team and one on a punt return…Vs. Minnesota (NFC Wild Card, Jan. 5): Served as a postseason captain for the first time, appearing in the game on special teams, but did not record any statistics.

2011: One of 10 rookies and three non-drafted free agents to make the club out of training camp, he appeared in nine games during his inaugural season, mostly on special teams…Played extensively from scrimmage during the preseason, where he saw action in all four games and finished with eight tackles (four solo) and a sack…Did not trigger the stat sheet defensively during the regular season, but was an effective coverage player on special teams, where he recorded four tackles…Suffered a shoulder injury in the season’s early going but battled back and appeared in the final four regular-season games, in addition to the team’s playoff game…Vs. New Orleans (Sept. 8):Became the first non-drafted rookie to see game action for the Packers in 2011, making his NFL debut on special teams in the season opener. Made an excellent block on WR Randall Cobb’s NFL record-tying 108-yard KR-TD, when he flattened LB Will Herring at the beginning of the return…At Chicago (Sept. 25): Made two tackles in kickoff coverage and was awarded a special teams game ball as he helped limit the Bears’ returners to a 21.3-yard average on three returns…Vs. Denver (Oct. 2): Inactive (shoulder)…Vs. St. Louis (Oct. 16):Returned to action, appearing on special teams, but aggravated the shoulder injury and was forced to miss the next two games…Vs. Oakland (Dec. 11): Returned to the field once again after missing two games with the shoulder injury and an additional four as a healthy scratch. Saw action on a season-high 18 defensive plays but did not record any statistics…At Kansas City (Dec. 18): Played on special teams and recorded a tackle in punt coverage when he corralled CB Javier Arenas after a 17-yard return that saw him wiggle away from a pair of other tackles.

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