Jamie Orion
 |
 Orion as a Purdue senior | |
| No. 29 – Prospect | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Safety |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | September 2, 2035 (aged 27) Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| 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 Undrafted: | 2059 |
| Career history | |
| 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 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Orion has two years remaining on his rookie contract and is expected to grow into the safety role with another productive off-season under his belt.
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 |
Achievements and records
Awards
- Team
- Ultimini Champion (1): 2058 (S43)
- NFC Champion (1): 2058 (S43)
- NSFC Champion (1): 2060 (S45)
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