AJ Lattimer

AJ Lattimer

AJ Lattimer, American Football Player
No. 20 – Orange County Otters
Position:	Cornerback
Personal information
Born:	(2005-02-14)February 14, 2005 (aged 56) Newark, New Jersey
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	307 lb (139 kg)
Career information
High school:	Central High School
College:	The University of Iowa
ISFL Draft:	2030  / Round: 1 / Pick: 8
DSFL Draft:	2029  / Round: 8 / Pick: 45
Career history
Portland Pythons
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
Pro Bowl (DSFL) - S14; Ultimini Champion - S14; Pro Bowl - S18; Ultimus Champion - S17, S18;

AJ Michael Lattimer (born January 14, 2005) is an American football corner back for the Orange County Otters of the National Simulation Football League (NSFL). He played college football for The University of Iowa (Iowa).

Early years

AJ Lattimer was born in Newark, New Jersey on February 14, 2005. He is the oldest son of Aaron and Michelle Lattimer. AJ has two siblings, a younger brother (Adam) and an older sister (Michaela).

As devout Catholics, the Lattimer family could be found at St. John's Roman Catholic Church every Sunday. AJ is baptised and credits many of his acheivements to his faith and love of God.

AJ attended Central High School in Newark, NJ, where he was an All-State discus thrower on the track team and Defensive Captain of the football team as a defensive lineman. Although he broke various school records, Lattimer was lightly recruited and only earned a 2-star rating from Rivals. After being passed over by many schools, Lattimer finally accepted a scholarship to the University of Iowa following his senior season. Iowa was the only school from a 'Power 5' conference to offer Lattimer a scholarship.

College career

As a freshman at the University of Iowa in 2026, Lattimer didn't see the field often, only making 9 tackles with 1 tackle for a loss. In his limited opportunities, AJ impressed coaches with his play.

Lattimer took on a bigger role as a sophomore, contributing 32 tackles, 5 sacks, and a forced fumble while splitting snaps as a rotational player. AJ was an important factor in what was an outlier year for Iowa, in which they went 11-2. Lattimer's only forced fumble came during the 4th quarter of the Rose Bowl after a critical sack in the opponent's territory. Iowa would recover in field goal range, only to miss a kick in the final seconds of play, causing them to lose 23-21.

During his junior campaign, Lattimer became a full-time starter, playing the best football in his career. AJ racked up 69 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles. He led the team in sacks and earned 2nd-team All-Big Ten honors while also being a semi-finalist for the Bronko Nagurski award. After winning the Outback Bowl against Mississippi State, Lattimer officially declared for the DSFL draft.

College career statistics

Team	Position	Tackles	Tackles for Loss	Sacks	Forced Fumbles	Fumble Recoveries	Interceptions	Pass Deflections
Iowa Hawkeyes	DT	110	25	13.5	4	2	0	8

Professional career

AJ Lattimer was selected with the 45th pick in the 8th round of the Season 14 DSFL draft by the Portland Pythons. As a starter at DT, he underwhelmed with his stats but was a part of a historically good defense. The Pythons would finish the season with a 10-4 record, the second best record of the regular season. In the playoffs, Lattimer and the Pythons won the rest of their games en route to the S14 Ultimini Championship, in which they beat the Tijuana Luchadores by a score of 34-20. After the season concluded, Lattimer was honored as a starter in the DSFL Pro Bowl.

The next year, Lattimer was selected with the 8th pick in the 1st round of the Season 15 NSFL draft by the Orange County Otters. He did only slightly better statistically than he did in the DSFL, but still disappointed in some respects. He played next to star defensive linemen in a talented defense, which could explain his performance. The team would finish second in the NSFC at 8-6, which was enough to get them to the playoffs, where the Otters lost in the NSFC Championship.

In season 16, Lattimer stepped up his game and had a solid year, improving in tackles, tackles for a loss, and sacks. Interestingly, he also earned an unusual NSFL record, as he returned an onside kick for 3 yards - the longest kick return by a DT in NSFL history as well as the most career kick return yards by a DT. He contributed to the Otters' ASFC best record of 10-3 and a first round bye following the expansion draft at the start of the season. However, in a heartbreaking defeat, the Otters would lose handily to the future Ultimus Champion Arizona Outlaws in the ASFC Championship.

Season 17 was the downfall of AJ Lattimer as a defensive tackle as he saw a massive dip in his statistical output. During the season, it was common to see Lattimer disappear from the stat sheet, as he only surmounted 11 tackles on the entire year. He also saw a decline in tackles for loss and sacks with only one each, but he did record his first career forced safety. The Otters would secure a wild card spot with a 7-6 record, and it seems that Lattimer was saving his best play for the playoffs. He was able to notch 5 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, and 2 sacks in an improbable run all the way through to the Ultimus, where the Otters would win their 6th championship, this time over the Baltimore Hawks.

Shockingly, Lattimer blindsided the league by switching positions from defensive tackle to corner back. The decision paid dividends for Lattimer and the Otters as he would go on to have an excellent season in the defensive backfield. He went on to be one of the best defensive backs throughout season 18, leading cornerbacks in pass deflections and finishing near the top of the other statistical categories - earning him his first selection to the Pro Bowl. In just one season he would have more tackles than he did in the rest of his career combined. After earning the second best record of the league and a first round bye in the playoffs, the Otters defeated the Arizona Outlaws in the ASFC championship and would move on to win their second straight Ultimus, this time over the Yellowknife Wraiths.

Pre-draft measurables

Ht	Wt	40‑yd dash	20‑ss	3‑cone	Vert jump	Broad	BP	Wonderlic
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	307 lb (139 kg)	4.52 s	4.68 s	7.92 s	24.3 in (0.62 m)	107 ft 4 in (32.72 m)	43 reps	20

Professional career statistics

DSFL

Career statistics			Tackles				Coverage		Safeties	Touchdowns	Blocks
Season	Team	Games	Tck	TFL	FF/FR	Sck	Int	PD	Sfty	TD	Blk P/XP/FG
2029 (S14)	Pythons	14	22	1	0/0	0	0	0	0	0	0/0/0

NSFL

Career statistics			Tackles				Coverage		Safeties	Touchdowns	Blocks	Kick Returns					Punt Returns
Season	Team	Games	Tck	TFL	FF/FR	Sck	Int	PD	Sfty	TD	Blk P/XP/FG	KR	KR Yds	KR Avg	KR Lg	KR TD	PR	PR Yds	PR Avg	PR Lg	PR TD
2030 (S15)	Otters	14	24	5	0/0	1	0	0	0	0	0/0/0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2031 (S16)	Otters	13	33	7	0/0	4	0	0	0	0	0/0/0	1	3	3	3	0	0	0	0	0	0
2032 (S17)	Otters	13	11	1	0/0	1	0	0	1	0	0/0/0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2033 (S18)	Otters	13	64	1	1/1	0	4	21	0	0	0/0/0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2034 (S19)	Otters	13	54	0	0/0	0	3	15	0	0	0/0/0	28	766	27.4	95	1	24	245	10.2	26	0
2035 (S20)	Otters	13	72	0	0/0	0	3	15	0	1	0/0/0	27	763	28.3	102	1	0	0	0	0	0
2036 (S21)	Otters	13	53	0	0/0	0	2	16	0	0	0/0/0	29	914	31.5	92	1	0	0	0	0	0

Professional career playoff statistics

Year	Team	Position	Tackles	Tackles for Loss	Sacks	Forced Fumbles	Fumble Recoveries	Safeties	Interceptions	Pass Deflections
2029	Portland Pythons (DSFL)	DT	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2030	Orange County Otters	DT	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2031	Orange County Otters	DT	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
2032	Orange County Otters	DT	5	2	2	0	0	0	0	0
2033	Orange County Otters	CB	11	0	0	0	0	0	0	2
NSFL CAREER TOTALS	Orange County Otters	DT	22	3	2	0	0	0	0	2

Achievements and records

- S14 Ultimini Champion (Portland Pythons)

- S14 DSFL Pro Bowl

- NSFL Record: Most Career Kick Return Yards by a DT

- S17, S18 Ultimus Champion (Orange County Otters)

- S18 NSFL Pro Bowl