Utah DE Nate Orchard Impresses Scouts in Final College Game

You might not have known it based on the two teams playing in the game, but Utah vs. Colorado State featured one of the top matchups between potential first round prospects in all of college bowl season. Utah defensive end Nate Orchard, the nation’s leader in sacks, went head to head with Colorado State’s Ty Sambrailo, a potential first rounder in his own right.

Both players have accepted invitations to participate in this year’s Senior Bowl, and both players were on display in front of a ton of NFL scouts and talent evaluators on Saturday. Utah dominated the game, and it was quarterback Travis Wilson who stole the headlines, but it was Orchard who drew the eye of NFL scouts on this day.

Playing mostly from his right defensive end spot, Orchard used his excellent hand technique and speed to win against Sambrailo, but the Utes also moved him to the left side of the formation, where he had similar success. On a signature play, Orchard came from his end spot to rush inside, and got a sack-fumble on CSU quarterback Garrett Grayson. The Rams recovered the ball, but missed a field goal.

That type of disruptive play is what we have all come to expect from the top sack artist in the country, the guy who finished his senior season with 18.5 in that category along with three forced fumbles.

Orchard’s senior season got him recognized as the Pac 12 defensive lineman of the year, but we’ll see if that all translates to a first round pick when all is said and done. Orchard certainly has a nice skill set, but scouts are worried that his first step isn’t quite what some of the other top pass rush prospects boast. He has the results to prove that whatever his technique or however quick he gets off the ball, he can flat out get to the quarterback, so it will be interesting to see if some team deems him worthy of a top 32 selection next year.

If he isn’t picked in the first round, you can rest assured that Orchard’s name won’t last long into day two. Pass rushers are at a premium, and this guy is one of the best.