Dan Orlovsky took a lot of heat for coming to UConn in 2000. The Huskies were a I-AA, and he was a high level quarterback recruit. If the object is to play in the NFL it might behoove a player to play at the highest level.
What was he thinking?
Orlovsky, a Shelton native, had faith in UConn and coach Randy Edsall. That faith has been rewarded. Orlovksy is going into his sixth year of the NFL, currently with the Texans, and surrounded by Tyler Lorenzen, who was on the practice squad with the Super Bowl champion Saints, first round pick of the Colts Donald Brown and former NFL player Alfred Fincher, Orlovsky know he made the right decision.
"It's one of the top three decisions I made in my life," Orlovsky said. "I took a lot, a lot, of heat for it when I made it. I believe in Coach Edsall and what he did and I wanted to do something different. The school took a chance on me to give me an opportunity. Coach Edsall invested his livelihood in the hands of 18-20 years olds. They took a chance on me and I on them and it worked out. "
There was a time the only UConn player in the NFL was tight end Brian Kozlowski. The school went decades without a draft pick. That ended when Fincher and Orlovsky were taken in the 3rd and 5th rounds in 2004. Then, Deon Anderson was a sixth round pick in 2007, Tyvon Branch in in the 4th round and Donald Thomas in the sixth ound in 2008 before and orgy of prospects last year. Brown in the first round and three second round picks in Darius Butler, Cody Brown and Will Beaty. Add to that Lorenzen making the NFL as an UDFA and the Huskies now have nine playrs currently on NFL rosters and several more on the fringe.
It will be added to this season when wide receiver Marcus Easley, defensive end Lindsey Witten and running back Andre Dixon are expected to be drafted. There are also a couple of UDFA that could make a roster in corner Robert McClain and safety Robert Vaughn.
Orlovsky knows when the program has arived and the NFL players are taking notice.
"Now when you get recruited to come to Connecticut, the NFL is an option. It's a legit option. It could be a goal for them instead of chasing a dream," Orlovsky said.
The Huskies moving onto the NFL is perhaps the best show of talent development. 13 months after having played together in the International Bowl Lorenzen and Brown met for dinner the first week of February in Miami. Brown is a reserve running back on the Colts. Lorenzen on the Saints. They were set to play in the Super Bowl.
The change wasn't lost on either.
"Who would have thought? A couple of years ago 4 guys drafted in first day and two guys in the super bowl," Brown said.
The future appears bright for Huskis in the NFL. Orlovsky has two year left on his contract with the Texans as Matt Schaub's backup and he is comfortable where he is. Lorenzen is on a 3 year deal with the Saints and is in a good position to make a roster after spending a year on the practice squad. Brown's in one of the best spots in the NFL in the backfield with Peyton Manning.
One thing is clear, UConn players in the NFL are no longer novelties.
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