Jamie Orion
Orion as a Purdue senior | |
No. 29 – Sarasota Sailfish | |
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Position: | Safety |
Personal information | |
Born: | Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. | September 2, 2035 (aged 29)
Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
Weight: | 210 lb (95 kg) |
Username: | Piercewise1 |
Career information | |
High school: | Columbus North |
College: | Purdue University |
ISFL Draft: | 2059 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7 |
DSFL Draft: | 2058 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2 |
Career history | |
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Roster status: | Active |
Jamie Orion (born September 2, 2035) is an American football safety with the Sarasota Sailfish. He played college football for Purdue University (Purdue) and spent a year with the Portland Pythons before ultimately being drafted 7th overall by Sarasota in the 2059 ISFL Draft (S44).
Contents
Early years
Jamie Orion was both in Indianapolis, IN to parents Edwin and Regina. He was born on a Sunday and, at a birth weight of 9 lbs 10 oz, was immediately knighted as a "future football star" by his sports-loving father. He played multiple sports and ran track at Columbus North High School, but quickly developed a passion for football. After earning a spot on the Varsity team, he earned the nickname "Raider" during his Sophomore season after forcing multiple fumbles while lined up as a gunner on the punt cover team. By his junior year he was a starting safety, and by senior year a team captain. Coaches and scouts lauded him not just for his solid fundamentals, but for his workout ethic and personal responsibility. As a captain, he instituted a personal policy where any blown assignments required an escalating number of pushups. While not playing football he loves reading science fiction stories and graphic novels, hiking, and fishing.
College career
Orion passed up a number of football scholarships to smaller MAC schools in order to walk on at Purdue. Despite the program's relative depth at the safety position, his enthusiasm, tenacity, and willingness to play any position soon earned him a scholarship, although he mostly played on special teams. Once again his work ethic and awareness came to the forefront; he was known to stay late in the gym, and knew the names of all its personnel, including the cleaning staff. His first snaps on defense came during a blowout win over Indiana State early in his sophomore year, and though he failed to record a tackle he did have a single pass break-up. Once again he worked his way up the ranks, playing as a back-up safety and nickelback his Junior year before getting elevated into the starting lineup due to injuries. Ultimately he played in 37 games at Purdue (21 starts), recording 6 interceptions and 16 passes defended.
College career statistics
Career statistics | Defense | ||||||||||
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Season | Team | Games | Tck | TFL | FF/FR | Sck | Int | PD | Sfty | TD | Blk P/XP/FG |
2055 | Purdue | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0/0/0 |
2056 | Purdue | 14 | 22 | 2 | 1/1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0/0/0 |
2057 | Purdue | 14 | 52 | 5 | 3/1 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0/0/0 |
Professional Career
Ht | Wt | 40‑yd dash | 20‑ss | 3‑cone | Vert jump | Broad | BP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
210 lb (95 kg) |
4.62 s | 35.5 in (0.90 m) |
9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) |
20 reps |
Season 43
Jamie Orion was selected 2nd overall by the Portland Pythons and placed into the starting lineup alongside fellow rookie Felix Waterman as part of a massive overhaul on the defensive side of the ball. In his first game (against the Minnesota Grey Ducks) he recorded 3 defended passes, with the entire defense logging 15 in a 38-13 victory. In week 4 against the Tijuana Luchadores he was credited with a season-high 10 tackles and another pass breakup in a narrow 31-29 loss. In total he finished the year with 59 tackles, 3 sacks, 7 defended passes, and a safety. While his statistical production was sometimes overshadowed by the work of Waterman and LB Thor Dangerson, the defense in total would finish second in the DSFL in points allowed at just under 20.6 per game. This group effort helped propel the Pythons to a league-best 11-3 record, as well as two commanding victories in the playoffs to claim the S43 Ultimini.
Season 44
Orion was drafted by the Sarasota Sailfish with the 7th overall pick of the S44 draft. The team quickly exercised their option to call him up to the ISFL, and he started all 16 games at safety alongside S43 1st round pick Spruce Willis. The young safeties were in lock step statistically all season: both ended up with 50+ tackles, 11 pass breakups, an interception, 3 sacks, and a fumble recovery. Orion nabbed his first takeaway in week 3, picking off a pass against the Berlin Fire Salamanders. He recovered his first ISFL fumble in week 10 during an upset victory over the New York Silverbacks. Spruce Willis would end up with bragging rights however, returning his interception for a touchdown in week 7 against the Colorado Yeti.
The Sarasota Sailfish ended their season on a tremendous run, winning 7 of their last 9 games and clinching a wild card berth out of the NSFC. But their luck ran out during a 19-14 defeat against the Baltimore Hawks. While he wasn't a game-changing player, Orion was part of a defensive backfield that ranked 2nd in the ISFL in passes defended with 117 (1st: Baltimore Hawks, 122). The team also blocked a punt and recorded 2 safeties.
Season 45
Orion improved during his sophomore season with the Sailfish, increasing his season totals to 67 tackles. He and Spruce Willis combined to make 126 stops, 3rd in the league among safety teammates. He reached a new single-game best of 8 tackles in week 9 against the Yellowknife Wraiths. He added 7 sacks, coming in tied for 2nd among all safeties. He also caused 3 turnovers with 2 fumble recoveries and an interception, and scored a safety.
The defensive unit struggled on the whole, rating in the bottom half of the league in key metrics like Points Allowed, Passes Defended, Interceptions, and Sacks (at which they came in dead last with 40). But the team rode an effective offense to a 6-2 start, and ultimately backed into the playoffs as a 9-7 wild card despite losing their last 3 regular season games. They defeated the Baltimore Hawks and Colorado Yeti to win their conference, only to lost in overtime to the Austin Copperheads in the Ultimus. Orion had a highlight moment in that game, chasing down a runaway receiver to prevent a touchdown. Unfortunately it was not enough to save the game.
Orion enters S46 on the last year of his rookie contact, and will be looking to impress potential teams (include his own) in an important season.
Season 46
Orion started the 2061 season on a high note, taking an interception return 52 yards to the house for his first ever ISFL touchdown. Unfortunately the opposing team (Berlin Fire Salamanders) responding with 2 defensive touchdowns of their own, both on interceptions, and another two offensive touchdowns to torch the Sailfish 45-24. In general the defense struggled this season, giving up 30 or more points in 6 of the team's 7 losses. Orion would not record another turnover for the entire year, though he made 46 tackles and had a career high 12 tackles. After starting his career at strong safety, the team moved him to free safety and Spruce Willis to cornerback to make room for new draft selection Miller Light.
The team went 9-7 in the regular season and made the playoffs as a wild card, but lost a bizarre overtime game against the Yellowknife Wraiths after their coach passed up a chip shot field goal in favor of a long 4th down attempt, which failed. It was the last game for Orion under his rookie contract, but he signed a 1-year extension to remain on the team through the 2062 season.
Season 47
In his second year as starting free safety Orion had his best statistical performance as a pro, tying his career high with 12 defended passes and doubling his career total of interceptions from 3 to 6. He also had 68 tackles, his most as a pro, though many of those were downfield after the secondary allowed long runs or completed passes. The Sailfish finished in the middle of the pack on most defensive metrics, but they were last in TFL and tied for last in forced fumbles.
The Sarasota offense finished last in the league in points scored (17.5 per game) and the team was never able to build up much momentum. After a tough 3-4 start they lost four games in a row, including consecutive blowouts on the road against Arizona and Baltimore, and finished the season 7-9. It was Orion's first losing season in either league and the first time he did not play in a postseason game.
In the middle of the year, Orion signed a massive extension designed to keep him on the team until retirement. Full details were 9 years, $36 million, with a mutual option every year should either party should change their mind. At the time of signing, Orion indicated his hope that he would finish his career as a Sailfish.
Professional career statistics
Career statistics | Defense | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | Games | Tck | TFL | FF/FR | Sck | Int | PD | Sfty | TD | Blk P/XP/FG |
2058 (S43) | Pythons | 14 | 59 | 0 | 1/2 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0/0/0 |
2059 (S44) | Sailfish | 16 | 55 | 0 | 1/1 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0/0/0 |
2060 (S45) | Sailfish | 16 | 67 | 0 | 1/2 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0/0/0 |
2061 (S46) | Sailfish | 16 | 46 | 0 | 0/0 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0/0/0 |
2062 (S47) | Sailfish | 16 | 68 | 0 | 0/0 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0/0/0 |
Achievements and records
Awards
- Team
- Ultimini Champion (1): 2058 (S43)
- NFC Champion (1): 2058 (S43)
- NSFC Champion (1): 2060 (S45)