West Virginia University senior center Tyler Orlosky was named to Athlon Sports’ preseason All-American Third team as announced by the organization Wednesday.

 

Orlosky, a preseason All-Big 12 First Team center from Cleveland, Ohio, from the same publication, started all 13 games last season and saw action on more than 1,000 plays. He helped pave the way for the offense to average 479.7 yards per game of total offense, 34.0 points, 228.2 rushing yards and 251.5 passing yards. The offense ranked No. 17 nationally in rushing offense, No. 18 in first down offense and No. 23 in total offense.

 

A 2016 Rimington Trophy Award “Watch List” nominee, Orlosky graded out 90 percent or better in all 13 games last season. The WVU rushing attack produced 200 or more yards in six games, 300 or more yards in three games and a season-high 426 yards at Kansas. In the last six games of 2015, the rushing offense averaged 251 yards per game and 499.3 yards of total offense.

 

In the Big 12, Orlosky is one of only two returning all-conference offensive linemen from 2015 and is the only returning Big 12 lineman listed on the final ranking of the Schneider Scale (ranked the best 25 lineman in the nation used for the Outland Trophy).

 

Editor's Note: Photo courtesy of WVU Sports Communications; photo by Dale Sparks.