Herb Orvis Biography: Colorado Buffaloes Football Legend
Herb Orvis anchored the Colorado Buffaloes’ defensive line with relentless ferocity, transforming the program into a national powerhouse before launching a successful decade-long NFL career.
Football Bio
October 17, 1946 – Mount Morris, Michigan – Herb Orvis, a defensive tackle for the University of Colorado, was born.
With the Buffaloes, Orvis was a 1971 First-team All-American and twice earned first-team All-Big Eight honors.
According to a great bio of Mr. Orvis on footballfoundation.org, he led the Buffs to three consecutive bowl games, including wins in the 1969 Liberty Bowl and the 1971 Bluebonnet Bowl, and earned a No. 3 national ranking in 1971.
Herb was a prominent player of his era, standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing approximately 235 pounds, and his ferocity terrorized opponents throughout his college career.
The National Football Foundation inducted Herb Orvis into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2016.
After graduation, the Detroit Lions selected Orvis with the 16th overall pick in the 1972 NFL Draft.
Herb played for the Lions from 1972-77, then for the Baltimore Colts for four more seasons. He received Second Team All-NFC honors in 1975. [National Football Foundation]
Orvis left an indelible mark on gridiron history, punishing opposing offenses at both the collegiate and professional levels to earn his rightful place among college football’s all-time greats.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- Played in 122 career NFL games, recording 33.5 unofficial sacks (sacks became an official NFL stat in 1982).
- Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2016.
- First-Team All-American selection in 1971.
- Two-time First-Team All-Big Eight selection (1970, 1971).
- Named the Big Eight Conference Newcomer of the Year in 1969.
- Drafted in the 1st round (16th overall) of the 1972 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.
- Earned Second-Team All-NFC honors in 1975.
- Named to the University of Colorado’s All-Century Football Team.
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