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Herb Orvis

Defensive End

Inducted 2016

Date of Birth

10/17/1946

Birthplace

Petosky, MI

School

University of Colorado (1969-1971)

Bio

A First Team All-American as a senior in 1971, Herb Orvis caused nightmares for opposing offenses during a Hall of Fame career at Colorado. He becomes the seventh Buffalo player to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. A First Team All-Big Eight Conference selection as both a junior and senior, Orvis was named the Big Eight Conference Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore in 1969 after recording 75 tackles. The 1971 recipient of the Dave Jones Award as Colorado’s most outstanding defensive lineman, he led the Buffs to three consecutive bowl games, including wins in the 1969 Liberty Bowl and the 1971 Bluebonnet Bowl. The senior team captain finished his career as Colorado’s all-time leader in sacks (20) and second in tackles for loss (32). Orvis was named the National Player of the Week after a 12-tackle, two-sack performance against Penn State in 1970 that ended the Nittany Lions’ 31-game unbeaten streak. He would lead the Buffs to a No. 3 national ranking in 1971 before playing in the Hula Bowl. The 16th overall pick by the Detroit Lions in the 1972 NFL Draft, Orvis played for the Lions from 1972-77 and for the Baltimore Colts from 1978-81. He received Second Team All-NFC honors in 1975. Selected as a member of the All-Big Eight Decade team for the 1970s, Orvis is a member of the Big Eight Hall of Fame and the University of Colorado Athletic Hall of Fame. He joined the Army while in high school, and he earned his diploma while serving in Germany, where he was offered a scholarship by Colorado head coach Eddie Crowder during a government-sponsored coaching tour.