Mike Lorello

Infobox NFLactive


|width =
caption =
currentteam =Free Agent
currentnumber =--
currentpositionplain =Safety
birthdate =birth date and age|1984|10|15
birthplace =Powell, Ohio
heightft =6
heightin =1
weight =208
debutyear =
debutteam =
college =West Virginia
undraftedyear =2006
pastteams =
* Pittsburgh Steelers (2006-2008)*:*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
status =
highlights =
* Second-team All-Big East (2004)
* First-team All-Big East (2005)
nfl =LOR452919

Michael Raymond Lorello (born October 15, 1984 in city-state|Powell|Ohio) is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at West Virginia.

Early years

Lorello was born to Raymond and Linda Lorello. He was a member of the Worthington Kilbourne High School basketball and lacrosse teams along with football. He was named an Agonis club all-star and a two-time Kilbourne Player of the Year. In football he was named first-team All-Ohio, two-year All-Ohio Capital Conference team, and an All-District selection. He recorded 110 tackles, six interceptions, and blocked two kicks as a senior in 2001.

College career

Freshman (2002)

In 2002, Lorello, as a freshman played bandit and free safety, while seeing special teams action. He started in the game against Ruters, where he made three tackles. He also recorded two tackles and a tackle for a loss in the bowl game against Virginia.

ophomore (2003)

As a sophomore in 2003, Lorello started at bandit safety, where he recorded 106 tackles as a true sophomore. He recorded a career-high 12 tackles against Wisconsin and four tackles for a loss (third best on the school's single-game record), 13 tackles against Cincinnati, 12 tackles and three pass break-ups against Miami (Fla.), 10 tackles and his first career interception against Rutgers, and seven tackles and a fumble recovery that led to a score against Virginia Tech. He was injuired against Syracuse, but returned for the Gator Bowl, where he recorded 10 tackles and a sack for a 14-yard loss. He was named the Big East Defensive Player of the Week against Wisconsin, [cite web |url=http://www.msnsportsnet.com/page.cfm?story=5115 |title=Football: Lorello Tabbed |work=MSNSportsNet.com |publisher=BigEast.org |date=2003-09-01 |accessdate=2008-09-27] and Defensive MVP against Cincinnati and Rutgers.

Junior (2004)

In 2004, his junior season, Lorello was on a team of Mountaineers that included Rasheed Marshall, Chris Henry, Kay-Jay Harris, and Adam "Pacman" Jones, who were expected to finish the season in the National Championship race. Although the Mountaineers finished a disappointing 8-4, Lorello started at spur safety and had a good season. He earned second-team All-Big East honors and was third on the team with 66 tackles. He had a fumble recovery and four tackles against the Maryland, seven tackles against Virginia Tech, two second-half interceptions against UConn, one that went for a 21-yard touchdown, [cite web |url=http://www.msnsportsnet.com/page.cfm?story=6884 |title=Huskies Humbled |last=Antonik |first=John |work=MSNSportsNet.com |publisher=Mountaineer Sports Network |date=2004-10-13 |accessdate=2008-09-27] blocked a field goal attempt against Syracuse, eight tackles and a fumble recovery against Rutgers, [cite web |url=http://www.msnsportsnet.com/page.cfm?story=6993 |title=Football: Lorello Earns Big East Award |work=MSNSportsNet.com |publisher=West Virginia University |date=2004-11-04 |accessdate=2008-09-27] but he broke his arm in the Gator Bowl against Florida State. [cite web |url=http://www.msnsportsnet.com/page.cfm?story=8000 |title=On the Mend |last=Antonik |first=John |work=MSNSportsNet.com |publsiher=Mountaineer Sports Network |date=2005-06-06 |accessdate=2008-09-27] Although he was injured, he recorded six tackles and a sack against the Seminoles. He was the Big East Player of the Week against Rutgers, Defensive MVP against Central Florida and Rutgers, and received Special Teams honors against Syracuse. He was awarded the Ideal Mountaineer Man Award from his coaches, and, along with Scott Gyorko and Craig Wilson, the 2004 Iron Mountaineer Award during winter practice. [cite web |url=http://www.msnsportsnet.com/page.cfm?story=6323 |title=Football: Spring Awards Announced |last=Poe |first=Shelly |work=MSNSportsNew.com |publisher=Mountaineer Sports Network |date=2004-04-17 |accessdate=2008-09-27]

enior (2005)

In his final season as a Mountaineer, 2005, Lorello was teamed up with senior free safety Jahmile Addae and a young Mountaineers team, who went 11-1 after a win in the 2006 Sugar Bowl win against Georgia. He, along with Addae, was named to the pre-season watch list for the Thorpe Award. [cite web |url=http://www.msnsportsnet.com/page.cfm?story=8036 |title=Football: Addae; Lorello Make Thorpe List |work=MSNSportsNet.com |publsiher=Mountaineer Sports Network |date=2005-06-29 |accessdate=2008-09-07] He had a key hit on D.J. Shockley in the game to force a fumble. He also led the Mountaineers with 82 tackles and was awarded All-Big East honors for the second year in a row. He recorded seven sacks and three interceptions. He was also named one of 184 semi-finalist for the Draddy Award. [cite web |url=http://www.msnsportsnet.com/page.cfm?story=8315 |title=Football: Lorello Draddy Award Candidate |work=MSNSportsNet.com |publisher=Mountaineer Sports Network |date=2005-10-04 |accessdate=2008-09-27] He was also voted by his teammates as the team MVP. [cite web |url=http://www.msnsportsnet.com/page.cfm?story=8784 |title=2005 Football Awards |work=MSNSportsNet.com |publisher=West Virginia Univeristy |date=2006-01-16 |accessdate=2008-09-27]

Professional career

Pittsburgh Steelers

Lorello was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers on May 2, 2006 as an undrafted free agent after the 2006 NFL Draft. He was signed to the practice squad prior to the season, but was released on September 2. After the end of the season, he was signed to the Steelers active roster on January 5, 2007.

During the 2007 preseason, Lorello saw credible action against the Green Bay Packers, recording six tackles. However, he was released by the Steelers after the pre-season. He was then re-signed to the team's practice squad on November 14. On January 11, 2008 he was re-signed by the Steelers. However, on June 28, 2008, he was released, before training camp.

References

External links

* [http://news.steelers.com/team/player/64055/ Pittsburgh Steelers bio]
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=10017 Profile] at ESPN.com
* [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/players/8216/ Profile] at Sports Illustrated.com
* [http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/8216 Profie] at Yahoo! Sports
* [http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/players/playerpage/1109821 Profile] at CBSSports.com
* [http://www.wvustats.com/football/player.php?team_id=308&person_id=1136 College stats at WVUStats.com]