Ian Bavitz

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Ian Bavitz
Image of Ian Bavitz
Ian Bavitz
No. 40
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1996-06-05)June 5, 1996 (aged 69)
Syosset, New York
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
College:Boston University
ISFL Draft:2016  / Round: 7 / Pick: 1
Career history
Roster status:Retired
Career highlights and awards
Career ISFL statistics as of 2024 "
Tackles:732
Tackles for loss:15
FF/FR:7/4
Sacks:70
Interceptions:21
PD:51

Player stats at ISFL.net

Ian Bavitz (born June 6, 1996) is a retired American football linebacker who played his entire career with the Orange County Otters of the National Simulation Football League (NSFL). He also played safety during the latter half of his career. He played college football for Boston University (BU) before being drafted by the Orange County Otters with the 37th overall pick in the 2016 ISFL Draft (S1). Bavitz is one of the longest serving Otters and was part of the teams first Ultimus Bowl victories and the historic threepeat. He has been voted Defensive Player of the Year once and has been to 6 Pro Bowls during his career. Bavitz had one of the most dominant defensive seasons during the 2022 season.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Ht Wt 40‑yd dash 20‑ss 3‑cone Vert jump Broad BP Wonderlic
6 ft 1 in
(1.85 m)
215 lb
(98 kg)
4.32 s 4.14 s 6.88 s 39.1 in
(0.99 m)
11 ft 0.7 in
(3.37 m)
39 reps 26

Orange County Otters

With a large player base available in the draft, many spots to fill and inconclusive scouting the inaugural draft was a shot in the dark for many teams. People had many questions marks with Bavitz and even recording the best vertical jump of the whole combine was not able to raise his stock too high and he was eventually taken with 37th pick of the draft The Otters would finish with a 9-5 record and make it to the ASFC Championship game, where they would lose to the eventual Ultimus winners, the Arizona Outlaws. Bavitz would establish himself as a standout player on the defensive side of the ball and earn his first Pro Bowl designation.

2017 saw the Otters unable to improve their record, going 8-6 in the regular season and losing to the Outlaws again in the ASFC Championship game in a close 17-13 loss. Bavitz would improve on his impressive play from his rookie season with 12 total sacks coupled with 96 tackles. Surprisingly this improvement was not enough for Bavitz to make the 2017 Pro Bowl, which still seems strange to this day and is the only season in his career, where he did not make the Pro Bowl.

Certain patterns were emerging over the first three seasons in the NSFL and Orange County was a large part of them. In their third season they yet again finished with a winning 8-6 record, but disappointing considering the level of talent. They would yet again lose to the Outlaws in the ASFC Championship game. In a similar way, Bavitz continued his impressive play with new personal records in tackles, tackles for loss and passes defended and really cementing his place on the list of top defensive player in the NSFL. His play was further recognized when he earned his third Pro Bowl designation.

The 2019 season was the first of many great seasons for the Otters, but for Bavitz it seemed like nothing had changed. He continued his high level of play, eclipsing his previous single season tackle record of 111 and posting a new personal all time high of 118, a personal record which he would never break. The Otters with league leading quarterback Mike Boss and Bavitz along with the rest of their team would change their fortunes after defeating their long time rivals, the Outlaws, 27-9 in the ASFC Championship game. Bavitz lead the way on defense with 8 tackles and sacking King Bronko twice. Bavitz and the Otters would not be stopped as they defeated the Yellowknife Wraiths 30-23 in Ultimus Bowl IV with Bavitz contributing 8 tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and two passes defended.

With their first rings, the Otters - and Bavitz - continued their high-level play in 2020, finishing 11-3 in the regular season and demolishing the Outlaws 43-19 in the ASFC Championship game, which had fully flipped on its head. The Otters defeated the Yellowknife Wraiths in their rematch to win their second Ultimus trophy. This time the Otters defense was a key part in the victory, and Bavitz leading the way and stuffing the stat sheet with 9 tackles and a tackle for loss, sack, pass defended and a key interception during the first quarter to place his marker on the game and give the Otters momentum. 2021 was much of the same for the Otters on many fronts as they would again finish with an 11-3 record and Bavitz dominating on the defensive side of the ball, getting his 5th Pro Bowl nod. The only difference was that Bavitz had switched over to playing mostly free safety and notched a career high 6 interceptions through the season. Moving on the playoffs,this time the Otters would face a new opponent in the ASFC Championship Game in the San Jose Sabercats and escape with a narrow 32-29 victory where Bavitz managed to score an all important safety in the 4th quarter. They would then defeat the Philadelphia Liberty in Ultimus Bowl VI and complete their first three peat by winning three consecutive championships in the NSFL.

The Otters went through significant player overturn in 20220, but that didn't affect the teams or Bavitz’s safety play at all. Bavitz was a complete defensive force through the season, leading the league with 8 interceptions and 2 defensive touchdowns, as well as having 13 sacks. His high level of play earned him both the Defensive Back of the Year award along with the Defensive Player of the Year award, making it his most successful season from a personal accolade viewpoint. The Otters would go 13-1 in the regular season and defeat their rivals, the Outlaws, 48-24 in the ASFC Championship Game. Looking for his and the Otters record fourth championship in a row, to fully cement their dynasty, they were stunned after the Philadelphia Liberty returned the opening kick-off 103 yards for a touchdown. They would never come back from this and end up losing 28-19 in Ultimus Bowl VII.

The 2023 season involved changes in the front office along with a blockbuster trade for safety Jaylon Broxton and would ultimately turn out to be Bravitz’s last season in the league. His age would start to show and his usually amazing stat lines would not be the same. He helped the Otters to a 10-4 record in the regular season, but would lose to the New Orleans Second Line in the ASFC Championship Game. With his defensive player of the year award, three NSFL rings and being a force as a linebacker and a safety, Ian Bavitz was inducted into the NSFL Hall of Fame in 2027


Professional career statistics

Career statistics Defense
Season Team Games Tackles TFL FF/FR Sacks Interceptions PD
2016 (S1) OCO 14 100 3 2/1 4 1 5
2017 (S2) OCO 14 96 2 1/1 12 1 3
2018 (S3) OCO 14 111 6 1/0 8 2 7
2019 (S4) OCO 14 118 1 2/0 10 0 8
2020 (S5) OCO 14 88 3 0/0 14 1 8
2021 (S6) OCO 14 67 0 1/1 9 6 7
2022 (S7) OCO 14 83 0 0/1 13 8 11
2023 (S8) OCO 14 69 0 0/0 0 2 2
Total 126 732 15 7/4 70 21 51

Awards and records

Awards

Team
Individual

Records

Orange County Otters
  • 2031; Currently holds the record for most interceptions in a season (8)