Former Hialeah Miami Lakes High School standout linebacker Jamari Lattimore was picked up by the New York Jets during the off season to help the team’s run defense that allowed 2,341 rushing yards, 3,746 passing yards and 401 points last season, and missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.
All in all, the Jets’ defense allowed 5,235 total yards and 25 points per game to finish with the sixth best defense in the NFL behind Seattle, Detroit, Denver, Buffalo and San Francisco.
The team, which finished the season 4-12, needs more depth at defense to stop the run and passing attacks from some of the best offensive teams on their 2015 schedule, including Super Bowl champion New England, Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins.
Lattimore, 6-2 and 230 pounds, who spent the past four years with the Green Bay Packers and was seconds away from a trip to the Super Bowl last year, is the ideal player to help the Jets’ defense.
In Green Bay, Lattimore, who started his career at the Miami Lakes Optimist Club, recorded 84 tackles (57 solo), four sacks and two interceptions.
New head coach Todd Bowles, who was the Arizona Cardinals' defense coordinator last season, is looking to rebuild the team, especially the defense, and sought linebackers with speed and aggressive tackling.
Lattimore, 26, signed with the Packers in 2011 as an undrafted rookie from Middle Tennessee State and was converted from defensive end to linebacker.
The Packers’ scouts thought he would be a good fit to the team’s defense after witnessing his record-breaking performances in college.
Lattimore spent his first college year at Dodge City Community College in Kansas, where he recorded 60 tackles, a team high nine sacks and two interceptions.
He transferred to Middle Tennessee State and registered 22 tackles (5.5 for loss), 3.5 sacks and broke up two passes during his sophomore year.
As a junior, he finished the season with 47 tackles, (9.5 for loss) and 5.5 sacks, earning him second team All-Sun Belt honors.
As a senior, he had 11.5 sacks, a team record in a game with four, 68 tackles, blocked two kicks and forced two fumbles, as he was named Sun-Belt player of the year.