Teton Saltes

Teton Saltes (born May 4, 1998) is an American football offensive tackle for the Arlington Renegades of the XFL. He played college football at the University of New Mexico, where he was the 2020 recipient of the Wuerffel Trophy, given to the player who "best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement".[1]

Teton Saltes
No. 79 – Arlington Renegades
Position:Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1998-05-04) May 4, 1998
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:300 lb (136 kg)
Career information
High school:Valley (NM)
College:New Mexico
Undrafted:2021
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com

High school career

Saltes focused more on playing basketball, and as a result, did not play football until his junior year of high school.[2] Once he started playing, he received offers from schools such as San Diego State, Texas Tech, and Iowa State. Ultimately, he committed to playing college football at New Mexico in 2016.

College career

After redshirting his true freshman season, Saltes switched from the defensive line to offensive line and worked his way to the starting right tackle job.[3] He was named to the All-Mountain West team as an honorable mention in 2019 as a redshirt junior, and to the All-Mountain West third-team by Pro Football Focus.[4][5]

In his redshirt senior season, Saltes was recognized for his community service work, being named the recipient of the Wuerffel Trophy, as well as the team captain of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.[1][6]

Professional career

After not being drafted in the 2021 NFL Draft, Saltes signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent.[7][8][9] He was waived/injured on August 9, 2021, and placed on injured reserve. He was released on October 25.

Saltes was selected with the fourth pick of the sixth round by the Michigan Panthers on February 22, 2022, during the 2022 USFL draft.[10] He was added to the inactive roster on May 5, 2022,[11] with an illness.[12] He was moved to the active roster on May 11.[13]

The Arlington Renegades selected Saltes in the first round of the 2023 XFL Supplemental Draft on January 1, 2023.[14] He was placed on the reserve list by the team on February 24, 2023, and activated on April 25.[15]

Personal life

Saltes lived on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota before leaving the reservation with his mother when she got into medical school, eventually settling in New Mexico.[16] He still returns to Pine Ridge every summer to mentor children on the reservation, as well as bring awareness to suicides among Native Americans in the United States.[17]

References
  1. "Teton Saltes of University of New Mexico Selected as 2020 Wuerffel Trophy Recipient". Wuerffel Trophy. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  2. "Pine Ridge native chases dreams, on the 2021 NFL Draft". KOTA. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  3. "Lobos D-lineman and former Valley Viking Teton Saltes has grown". KRQE. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  4. "Dyer Named Second-team All-Mountain West". University of New Mexico Lobos Athletics. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  5. "College Football 2020: PFF's All-Mountain West Team". Pro Football Focus. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  6. "Teton Saltes Named 2020 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Captain". University of New Mexico Lobos Athletics. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  7. Shark Sports Football [@SharkSportsFB] (May 1, 2021). "Congrats to Teton Saltes ( @Beast__Mobile ) signing with the @nyjets #NFLDraft" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. "NFL Draft 2021: Jets undrafted free agent signings tracker (with scouting reports) – Who will Joe Douglas add after picking Zach Wilson, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Elijah Moore, others?". nj.com. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  9. Greenberg, Ethan (May 7, 2021). "Jets Sign 12 Undrafted Free Agents". NewYorkJets.com.
  10. Tate, Van (February 23, 2022). "Former Jets and Lobos lineman Teton Saltes taken in USFL Draft". KRQE. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  11. @USFLPanthers (May 5, 2022). "Players remaining on inactive roster" (Tweet). Retrieved May 5, 2022 – via Twitter.
  12. @USFLPanthers (May 5, 2022). "Game Status Report" (Tweet). Retrieved May 5, 2022 – via Twitter.
  13. @USFLPanthers (May 11, 2022). "Roster Updates" (Tweet). Retrieved May 12, 2022 – via Twitter.
  14. "Supplemental Draft Picks 2023". XFL.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  15. "XFL Transactions". XFL.com. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  16. "SHINING THROUGH: Pine Ridge native preparing for NFL Draft". NewsCenter1. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  17. "Pine Ridge reservation suicides guide Native American football player's drive for change". The Coloradoan. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
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