Erik Lorig

Erik Lorig (born November 17, 1986) is a former National Football League (NFL) American football fullback, who played 6 seasons in the NFL.

Erik Lorig
Fullback/Tight End Erik Lorig (2015)
No. 44, 41
Position:Fullback
Personal information
Born: (1986-11-17) November 17, 1986
Rolling Hills, California
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school:Palos Verdes Peninsula
(Rolling Hills Estates, California)
College:Stanford
NFL Draft:2010 / Round: 7 / Pick: 253
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:30
Receiving Yards:193
Touchdowns:1
Player stats at NFL.com

He played defensive end in college football at Stanford, where he sometimes played both ways as a Tight End and Defensive End. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft, converted to fullback in his rookie season, and played for the team for four years. His rookie contract was reportedly worth over $2 million with escalators. In March 2014, the New Orleans Saints signed Lorig in free agency to a four-year contract worth over $5 million.[1]

Early years

Lorig was born in Rolling Hills, California. He is Jewish, was bar-mitzvahed, and is of Jewish (on his father's side) and Scandinavian (on his mother's side) descent.[2][3][4][5]

He played high school football as a tight end at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School in California.[6]

College career

He played college football for the Stanford Cardinal at defensive end.[7] At 6-foot-4, 280 pounds, he ran the 40-yard (37 m) dash in 4.76 seconds, and was known for having a quick burst off the line. Lorig did not work out while at the combine due to injury. In his first two years at Stanford, Lorig played tight end and wore number 80. In his freshman campaign, Lorig played in all 12 games where he contributed on special teams and served as the offense's blocking TE, often lining up in the backfield as an H-back/fullback. He recorded 10 catches for 100 yards.

He was then asked by the new coaching staff to switch to defensive end for his junior year, and proceeded to record 39 tackles, including 6 tackles for loss and 3 sacks in 2008, and had 37 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks in 2007.[8] His NFL prospect status took a severe hit in 2009, when he sat out most of the season because of a torn pectoral muscle.[9][10][11]

In his five years at Stanford he started 25 of 29 games, and had 95 tackles, 16.5 tackles for a loss, and 4.5 sacks, earning Honorable Mention All-Pac 10 as a junior, and All-Pac All-Academic team twice (2008, 2009).[8][12]

As an undergraduate at Stanford, Lorig majored in Public Policy, a sub-department within the School of Economics, with an emphasis in Technology Policy, and minored in Film and Media Studies. He obtained a master's degree in Digital Media Technologies at Stanford in 2011, taking classes during his off-seasons.[12]

Professional career

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2010–14)

Lorig was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round (253rd overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft. He was signed to a four-year contract for $1.8 million on June 18, 2010.[13]

Lorig switched from defensive end to fullback/tight end on October 3, 2010.[14] He made his NFL debut at Cincinnati a week later, and had his first NFL start against Carolina on November 14, 2010, starting at fullback.[14] In 2010, he played in 12 games, starting 1, and in 2011, he played in 16 games, starting 7.[15]

On September 9, 2012, he tied for first on the team with a career-high four receptions.[14] He had his first career touchdown reception at Minnesota on October 25, 2012.[14] In 2012, he played in all 16 games, starting 7.[15] In 2013, he played in 15 games, starting 9.[15] In his four seasons with the Buccaneers, he played in 62 regular season games (starting 24 at fullback and tight end), while catching 30 passes for 193 yards and one touchdown.[7][8] Lorig helped lead running back Doug Martin to several Buccaneer franchise records including: Martin's 1,926 yards from scrimmage in a single season ranks him second in Buccaneers' history behind James Wilder Sr. (2,229 yards from scrimmage)[16] Martin went on to two Pro Bowl selections in 2012 and 2013, with Lorig as his lead blocker.[16]

Lorig became a free agent in 2014.[17] In February 2014, the Buccaneers were reported to be interested in re-signing him.[17]

New Orleans Saints (2014-16)

During NFL free agency, Lorig signed a four-year contract reportedly worth $5 million with a $1 million signing bonus with the New Orleans Saints on March 18, 2014.[18] In the 2014 season, Lorig lead running back Mark Ingram to a franchise rushing record for consecutive 100 yard games in a season, and helped elect Ingram to a Pro Bowl selection.[19]

After suffering a broken ankle in his first training camp with the team, Lorig returned to play on October 18 against the Green Bay Packers, leading running back Mark Ingram run for over 100 yards and recording two receptions from Drew Brees. In the final seconds of the game, Lorig took two carries of the football while the game clock wound down.[20]

On November 28 against the Pittsburg Steelers, Lorig scored his first touchdown with the Saints in the 2nd quarter, giving the Saints the lead over the Steelers.[21]

He was released by the Saints later in the 2015 season.[22] After departing the Saints, Lorig spent the 2016 season with several other teams. He has played 66 games in the NFL.[23]

Accolades

In 2015 he was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.[24]

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See also

References
  1. Saints Sign Fullback Erik Lorig to Four-Year Contract - MYARKLAMISS
  2. "Erik Lorig, Green Yogi of The Month". Thegreenyogimb.com. February 28, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  3. "Kaplan's Korner". Jweekly.com. Archived from the original on January 2, 2011. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  4. "2011 NFL Football Preview". Jewish Sports Review. 8 (87): 6–7. September–October 2011.
  5. "Jews in the News: Erik Lorig, Jonah Hill & Jeffrey Goldberg". Letmypeoplegrow.org. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  6. "Player Bio: Erik Lorig". Stanford University. Archived from the original on January 7, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  7. "New Orleans Saints, free agent fullback Erik Lorig agree to 4-year deal". Fox News. October 1, 2006. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  8. "New Orleans Saints agree to terms with fullback Erik Lorig on four-year contract". Neworleanssaints.com. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  9. Carroll, Chuck (June 18, 2010). "Bucs Sign Two Draft Picks, Release Crowell and Two Others". Footballnewsnow.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2010. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  10. "Former USF Bulls star Matt Grothe excited about first day of Tampa Bay Buccaneers minicamp". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
  11. "Erik Lorig, Stanford, NFL Draft". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
  12. Campbell, Charlie (March 18, 2011). "Lorig Works on Mastering Fullback and Masters Degree". Pewter Report. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  13. Biggs, Brad (June 18, 2010). "Bucs sign 7th rounder Lorig, cut two". nationalfootballpost.com. Archived from the original on June 23, 2010. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
  14. Erik Lorig. "Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Erik Lorig". Buccaneers.com. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  15. "Erik Lorig, FB for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers". Nfl.com. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  16. "Martin on Rookie of the Year Short List". Tampa Bay Buccaneers. January 4, 2013. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  17. "Buccaneers want to re-sign Erik Lorig and Jonathan Casillas". Bucs Nation. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  18. Mike Triplett, "Saints to sign new fullback Erik Lorig", ESPN, March 18, 2014.
  19. "Saints down Panthers, end seven-game road losing streak". ESPN. October 30, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  20. Green Bay Packers recover New Orleans Saints fullback Erik Lorig's fumble - NFL Videos
  21. New Orleans Saints vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: Live Pittsburgh Score and Analysis | Bleacher Report | Latest News, Videos and Highlights
  22. "ERIK LORIG". foxsports.com. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
  23. Erik Lorig: Career Stats at NFL.com
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