He’s stout, he can hit and he finds a way to the QB or ball carrier, stick it to them and take them down. That is something North Texas has had a problem with for some time, the art of tackling. This guy plays inside linebacker and is considered a sure tackler. Ask anyone around DeSoto High School, DeSoto, Texas what three star rated Zachary Orr, 6-0, 231, 4.75, ILB can do to opposing running backs and quarterbacks. He is good because football is in his bloodlines and pro football player to help him learn the game of football.

He has the knack of reading a play and blowing it up especially if they try to invade his turf. His junior year was his best year but some feel that his numbers were down a bit during his senior year because opposing offenses did not like the pain he inflicted when they tried to bring it into his neighborhood.

Some rating services had him ranked the forty best player in Texas. Tom Lemming thought Orr is an “explosive and a dominating run stuffer” that “is smart with good instincts.” He commented “believe me, this young man can play the game” and has “what it takes to make it big at the next level.” 

He selected North Texas over UTEP, San Diego State, LaTech and Tulsa. As for why North Texas over the other schools, DeSoto Head Football Coach Claude Mathis said Orr felt it was a good fit for him. He really feels he has the chance to play as a true freshman and the coach said “I think he can get some playing time.”  Another reason for the selection is Mathis and Orr believes Head Football Coach Todd Dodge “is a great coach” and has the program headed into the right direction.  

Mathis said more big name teams were interested in him but he had delayed his decision too long about where he might be interested in playing. As a result several big name schools cooled on him. There was nothing with his playing “when they saw him play there was no problem” it was it waited too long in the recruiting process to decide which schools to make visits to.  When asked if he is a Division 1 player, the coach said a firm voice “oh yes fooorrrrr sure.”

Several sites had reported he ran the 5.08 in the forty and when asked about the time Mathis said “he got a bad rap” and doesn’t know where the number came from. They have timed him as fast as 4.6 in the forty.

Mathis said “we’re going to miss him. He is a run stopper around here.” When offenses tried to run up the middle into his area “he took no mess from nobody. Nobody can run on us when Zach is in the game.” He is a “sure tackler.”

Last season the one area he was a little weak on was his pass defense. Last summer he worked on his techniques. As a result this past season he was extremely “tough on the passing game this year.” Mathis pointed out this past season when DeSoto’s defense “played the cover two, he was able to cover the crossing routes” something he had problems with last year.     

Going into his senior season he was a preseason 2^nd team All-State pick and was listed on HeismanWatchRecruiting.com’s 2010 Top 110 prospects in a several state area and the #10 Top Linebacker in those same states. In his senior year he had 81 solo tackles, 28 assisted for a total of 159 tackles, 22 for losses, one interception for a 22 yard touchdown return. He averaged 12.7 tackles a game and he accounted for eight sacks. He was the TexasHSFootball.com player of the week on defense for his play against Cedar Hill. In the game he recorded 15 tackles, 11 solo and 4 assists. Two tackles were for loses, two quarterback sacks and two quarterback hurries.

In a junior year he chalked up 88 solo tackles, 74 assisted for a total of 159. Twenty-four of the tackles were for a loss and eleven were quarterback sacks. He also had one interception, recovered six fumbles and caused seven. As a result as a junior he was selected to First Team Class 5-A All-State.

Last year, Orr played on Team Super Speed the 7 on 7 football team from DeSoto. They went to the State Championship games at Texas A&M where they finished in the final four which was the furthest a team from DeSoto had been. They qualified for the national tournament in Oregon and made it to the National Championship game losing to Miami 15-28. 

Orr is not just a good football player, he is known for other things he does. This past season he was one of 53 Scholar-Athletes that were honored by The National Football Foundation (NFF). It was a big treat for Orr since the event was held at the Texas Stadium. It wasn’t just the athletic accomplishment of the athlete which got them the award but what he/she did in the classroom and their commitment to the community. Teachers, coaches, administrators and business leaders selected the 53 students.

Orr states his role model is “his dad.” He wants to “go to college, get my degree and be successful in whatever I do.”  His favorite movie is “Friday Night Lights.”  Before each game he says he focuses on the game and prays. His Motto is “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, Philippians 4:13.”

His father is Terry Orr who played for the University of Texas and then played eight years in the NFL as a tight end. He was mainly used as a blocking tight end. He was a tenth round pick by Washington Redskins. He played part of the 1990 season for the Chargers before returning to the Redskins where he finished his career 1993.