Tyler Orlosky

Classroom

Tyler Orlosky graduated with his bachelor’s degree in sport and exercise psychology and is currently working on master’s degree in corporate communications. He was awarded the Louis Meisel Award for the highest senior GPA on the football team by the Alumni Association Endowment and named to the All-Big 12 Conference Academic First Team in 2013 and 2015 and Second Team in 2014. He also has been named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll and WVU’s Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll every semester.

Character

“Tyler Orlosky is the total package of what a scholar-athlete should be. He has all the qualities that make him a great leader on and off the field. This is the kind of person we need in this country, and no matter what he does, he will be successful. There is no question in my mind that he will be one of the future leaders in our country. I believe he is one of the top collegiate centers in the nation today. He is a three-year starter in a good football program that plays at a big-time level. He is well-coached, knows the game, and his technique is outstanding.” - Former NFL Vice President of Player Personnel for the Dallas Cowboys Gil Brandt

“Tyler is one of the best centers in the nation. He is intelligent, very sound in his technique and doesn’t make mistakes. He is one of our team leaders, is straight forward in his approach and provides leadership to his teammates, both on and off the field.” - WVU Head Coach Dana Holgorsen

“... Not only is Tyler a leader on our football team, but I consider him to be a leader among all our student-athletes. He not only has been a tremendous football player for the Mountaineers, but also is a strong representative in the community and with the state, regional and national media ... His maturity certainly does shine through.” - WVU Athletic Director Shane Lyons

Community

Orlosky is not only a leader on the football team but also is looked at as a ?leader among the student-athletes on campus. In June, he and teammates visited with a woman dying of cancer and helped her live her dream of seeing Milan Puskar Stadium one more time before she died and made her and her family feel part of the Mountaineer family. Orlosky was involved in “Once a Mountaineer, Always a Mountaineer Program,” in which current players in the WVU football program and former players who are in the NFL come back and have a day for kids to encourage them to live a healthy lifestyle and to be active (similar to the NFL’s Play60 program). He has visited patients at the WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital, served as a guest speaker at a WVU donor dinner, worked several WVU camps as a counselor and worked several high school camps. Orlosky and his teammates also worked the Football 101 football clinic for women, giving them an introduction to football.

Competition

Orlosky is a third-year starting center for WVU, and several publications have named him the best center in the nation. This year he has been named “Best at His Position” entering the season by USA Today, preseason first-team All-America (USA Today), preseason second-team All-America (Phil Steele), the No. 2 draft-eligible center (Phil Steele), and part of the Rimington Trophy, Rotary Lombardi and Outland Trophy watch lists.

Pro Football Focus (PFF) calls Orlosky the best center in the Big 12. He gave up just one sack, one hit and four hurries during the entire 2015 season and his pass blocking efficiency of 99.0 ranked first in the nation among returning centers. His run blocking grade was second-best in the nation, and PFF says he is at the All-American level. He also was ranked among the top 25 players on the Schneider Scale (used to rate offensive linemen) nationally.

In 2015 Orlosky was named to the All-Big 12 First Team (ESPN.com), All-Big 12 Second Team (Coaches), and graded out 90 percent or better in all 13 games. Running behind WVU’s line, Wendell Smallwood was the Big 12 rushing champion and No. 17 nationally in rushing yards (1,519). West Virginia’s offense averaged 480 yards per game, including 228.2 rushing yards. Orlosky helped lead the West Virginia football program to winning seasons the past two years and two bowl games. The Mountaineers spent time in the Top 25 during the past two seasons, and, as of nomination time, Orlosky has been used on a team-high 2,678 plays over his career, including 2,554 offensive plays.