SALT LAKE CITY — Nate Orchard accepted his early invitation Monday to the 66th Reese’s Senior Bowl.
One of the first 11 nominees, Orchard anchors the defense for No. 25 Utah. A relentless pass rusher, the 6-foot 4, 255-pound defensive end has 15.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks this season.
Through nine games, Orchard ranks third nationally in sacks. With 43 total sacks, the Utes (6-3, 3-3 Pac-12) lead the nation.
Orchard is the only player from a Utah school or the Pac-12 to receive a first-ballot invitation to the game.
The Senior Bowl will take place Saturday, Jan. 24, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.
"We are so pleased that these invited players have responded so quickly in accepting to play in our 2015 game,” Senior Bowl Executive Director Phil Savage said. “The importance of this event in the timeline of the NFL Draft cannot be understated and these prospects really understand the opportunity here."
A former wide receiver from Highland High in Salt Lake City, Orchard brings a quickness that has executives intrigued ahead of the 2015 NFL draft.
ESPN Insider cites Orchard’s height-weight-speed, durability, and intangibles as translating to a productive professional pass-rushing career.
Bleacher Report says Orchard is ideal fit for NFL defenses that use the 3-4 defensive scheme comprised of three linemen with four linebackers.
"Let him play weak-side rush 'backer and unleash him on the offense with his pursuit skills, quickness in space and first-step ability off the ball,” Bleacher Report wrote. “He shows that rare skill to convert speed to power as a pass-rusher. Keep Orchard's name in your back pocket — he's about to heat up.”
This week’s Draft Stock Watch on football.com singles out Orchard’s play with praise. The site said, “Perhaps the most intriguing name on that initial list is Orchard, who didn't look overmatched against Oregon's pedal-to-the-metal attack on Saturday.”
After consecutive losses to Arizona State (19-16 OT) and Oregon (51-27), the Utes look to get back on track in Saturday's road game against the Stanford Cardinal.