Wasilla standout inks intent to play at Bemidji State

WASILLA — Throughout his high school career, Zach Orr seemed to stand out.

And now the Wasilla High School senior stands out as the first player in the Jim Shetter era to sign a National Letter of Intent to play college football.

On Wednesday — a day dubbed ‘National Signing Day’ by national media — Orr officially committed to Bemidji State University in a small ceremony at Wasilla High School that included friends, family, coaches and school administration.

“I’m excited for him,” said Shetter, who will start his third season at the helm of the Warrior football program when his squad hits the field in the fall. “I think it’s going to be a great opportunity.”

Orr, an all-state lineman and the captain of a Wasilla squad that advanced to the 2007 state playoffs, was one of the top linemen in the state during his senior year.

On defense, Shetter and WHS defensive coordinator Chuck Pfiefer used Orr in a variety of ways, most notably as a rush end.

On offense, Orr helped anchor a senior-laden line.

Orr had also been used at tight end and linebacker during his prep career.

Pfiefer said, even as a freshman on the C-team, Orr stood in front of the pack.

“I always knew he was going to go somewhere and do something special,” said Pfiefer, who has coached Orr since the Wasilla senior was in grade school.

Orr, a two-year All-Railbelt Conference selection on both offense and defense, was recruited as a defensive end, but may be used as an offensive tackle in the future.

“They’re still looking for a real athletic, smaller left tackle,” Orr said. “I said I’d do it, anything I could to help the team, so there’s a possibility I’ll move to left tackle.”

But Orr said is preference is to play defense.

“I think I’m better suited to play D-end, because of my size,” said Orr, who is listed at 6-foot-4, 270 pounds by the Bemidji State athletic department. “I don’t think I have the size to play line, as far as the real big mass.”

Shetter also feels Orr is destined for the defensive side of the ball on the college football field.

“He’s a legitimate defensive end at the DII level, speed wise,” Shetter said. “Especially in that odd front, when he can come around that corner pretty fast. He did that well with us.”

Bemidji runs a conventional 4-3 style defense, but does use the five-man front line.

Orr chose the Division II program from a handful of options.

There were several factors in his decision, Orr said, including academics, the coaching staff and the success of the program.

“For the past eight years they’ve had winning seasons,” Orr, who also considered Division II Western Oregon and NAIA Valley City State, said on Wednesday. “I’ve got a chance to go down there and win some conference championships and compete for a national championship.”

The Bemidji State Beavers are recognized as one of the emerging football programs at the Division II level. The Bemidji, Minn., based team captured the 2006 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, and has 10 winning seasons in the last 12 years.

The opportunity to get to know Bemidji head coach Jeff Tesch also played a role in his decision.

“I got to know him quite a bit — the way he runs his program, what he expects of his team, the way he carries himself,” Orr said of Tesch, who signed a four-year extension in January. “I know he’ll be there; I’ll have some security.”

Academic opportunities also impressed Orr.

“I really liked the academics, the degree really appealed to me,” Orr said. “The ability to go and get your eduction, that’s something you can’t pass up. I’ve always said I want to have my school paid for.”

Orr said he is leaning toward studying construction management.

“They have one of the best construction management programs in the nation,” Orr said. “They have a 100 percent placement rate on there students, and the best jobs are here in Alaska for that degree.”

Bemidji State is also a place where Alaska players have had success.

Former Colony standout George Percak-Dennett, the 2007 Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year, is a redshirt freshman at Bemidji State, and part of Tesch’s 2007 recruiting class.

Like Percak-Dennett, Orr said he will most likely redshirt his freshman year.

“George redshirted and now he’s working on stepping into a starting spot,” Orr

said.

The Bemidji State roster features several players from the Last Frontier, including sophomore defensive back Sid Johnson (Lathrop), sophomore quarterback Cory Wardrope (Chugiak), sophomore wide receiver CJ Keys (Juneau-Douglas), sophomore running back Brandon Miles (Kenai Central), freshman lineman Chad Whaley (North Pole) and freshman lineman Austin Roberts (Soldotna).

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.