Pitt offensive tackle Jeff Otah will be wearing a different colored uniform this season, but he still will be playing for the Panthers.

That's the Carolina Panthers, who selected Otah with the 19th overall pick in the first round of the NFL draft yesterday in New York.

Carolina acquired the choice from Philadelphia by trading up from the No. 43 spot in the second round, but it was expensive. The Panthers gave the Eagles second- and fourth-round selections this year and a first-rounder next season in order to take Otah.

"That says a lot about how we feel about Jeff Otah," Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said. "Otah is a big, physical, offensive tackle. You don't have a lot of opportunities to get players like him, so we made a lot of calls and when we got to Philadelphia, we were able to make the deal."

Hurney and Panthers coach John Fox, a former secondary coach for the Steelers under Chuck Noll, attended Otah's individual workout earlier this month at the UPMC Sports Performance Complex on the South Side.

"Jeff got a great feel from Carolina at his Pro Day April 9 when he went out to dinner with five members of the organization, including the head coach and general manager," said Eric Metz, Otah's agent.

"He's very appreciative to have the opportunity to play there."

Fox said Otah, who did not return a call seeking comment, likely would play right tackle on Carolina's reshuffled line.

"Having said that, I really haven't talked to the staff yet," Fox said. "But more than likely, that is probably the way we will go."

Otah, 6 feet 6, 322 pounds, was the first Pitt offensive lineman to be picked in the first round in 13 years. Guard Ruben Brown was the 14th overall pick of the Buffalo Bills in 1995.

Otah was the sixth offensive lineman taken yesterday and he was the second Pitt player to go in the first round in as many years. Cornerback Darrelle Revis from Aliquippa was the 14th overall selection of the New York Jets a year ago.

A native of Nigeria who came to the United States at age 7, Otah didn't play organized football until his senior season at William Penn High School in New Castle, Del.

He attended Valley Forge Military Academy for two years and blossomed into one of the best prospects in the country.

Otah started 24 games at left tackle the past two seasons for Pitt. He was a first-team all-Big East Conference pick as a senior and an offensive captain. He also was named a first-team All-American by Pro Football Weekly.

Otah is the third Valley Forge alum to become a first-round pick from Pitt. He joins current Pro Bowl receiver Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals and former Pro Bowl linebacker/defensive end Chris Doleman, who played for the Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers.

Otah will be blocking for Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart, whom the Panthers took 13th overall.

Surprisingly, Penn State cornerback Justin King from Gateway High School and linebacker Dan Connor -- projected as late first-round or early second-round picks -- were not among the 63 players drafted in the first two rounds.