WVU’s Tyler Orlosky (65) was named a Team Captain for the 2016 season.
(Photo Credit: Shanna Rose, BGS)
MORGANTOWN, W.Va.–With Senior Day on the horizon, there is no doubt on the importance of the 21 seniors in the West Virginia University locker room. Tyler Orlosky is undoubtedly one of the Mountaineers’ leaders and has been a crucial component to this season’s success.
The 6-foot-5, 296-pound center is probably the loudest and one of mouthiest guys on the team but he is also one of the most talented and has a keen sense of the game.
“Smart, just really smart,” WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen said the offensive linemen Orlosky. “He understands things. I talk to him like a coach. He’ll come over on the sidelines, and me and him have a great relationship, and he’ll tell you he hates me and I’ll tell you I hate him, but truth of the matter is, we work together pretty dang good. We’ll be on the sidelines and he’ll say ‘I know’ and I won’t even have to say it because he knows what’s coming out of my mouth. Then he’ll say, ‘would you quit running the counter, run the inside zone’ and I go ‘yeah yeah yeah try blocking those guys, I call plays you block people’, but what he says matters because he’s so experienced and he studies film, he directs people and he knows how it’s supposed to look, and he’s a leader now, but the comfort of running the huddle and getting people together in a huddle and breaking that thing and getting up in the snap and all of that stuff that you really don’t have to worry about, he just makes sure it happens.”
WVU’s Tyler Orlosky (65) during warmups before the Mountaineers took on the Sooners on November 19, 2016.
(Photo Credit: Kelsie LeRose, BGS)
The redshirt senior has always been opinionated but credits his parents for not letting it get out of control.
“I’ve always voiced my opinion since I was a little kid.” he said. “My mom will probably tell you that she wanted to say some things and probably hit me for some of the things I’d say. Obviously I think it’s my upbringing. My parents did a good job raising me and they allowed me to voice my opinion but they also told me there was going to be consequences if I do voice my opinion. Obviously I’ve learned from that.”
There is no doubt that Orlosky is one of a kind.
“There have been guys who say what they mean, mean what they say, and they’re real,” offensive coordinator Joe Wickline said. “He’s a special guy, and he’s got his own personality. Everybody understands where everybody is at and does a leadership role and gets it, and he knows his role, and comes out works and gets it done.”
The Cleveland, Ohio native is truly what the Mountaineers’ offense revolves around.
“I’ve said this a bunch of times, he’s the guy on our offense that gets everyone on the same page, communicates the calls, gets everything started,” offensive line coach Ron Crook said. “Then he’s playing on a really high level right now. I’m not prepared to say he’s the best in the country, I’m just saying he’s playing really well. That’s for other people to decide but he’s the guy that starts everything for us. In the weight room, in the meeting room, at the line of scrimmage, everything. He sees things really well, it’s surprising some of the stuff he sees. I’m excited for him and excited to see him go and play in his last regular season game. To see how he handles himself is going to be fun.”
WVU’s Tyler Orlosky (65) prepares to snap the ball against Oklahoma State.
(Photo Credit: Jeff Ruff, BGS)
For Orlosky, it seems like just yesterday his journey in Morgantown was beginning and now it’s coming to an end.
“It went by fast,” he said. “It seems like just yesterday I was just a freshman and didn’t know what the hell to do. Obviously, I think that I have had a great five years here. I have met a lot of people, built some great relationships here, its five years that I will never forget.”
As Orlosky takes one final stroll down the field with his parents by his side, it will be a moment he will always cherish.
Cover Photo Credit: Jeff Ruff, BGS
