Orie commits to the Naval Academy
At 6-3, 255, Clancy Orie has the makings of an NFL linemen. Even though he recently committed to the United States Naval Academy, the Bethel Park senior is holding onto the dream of playing professionally.
“I want it to be a reality,” Orie said. “After college, the goal is to make it to the NFL.”
Under new regulations currently being considered by House lawmakers, military academy athletes graduating could skip their active duty commitments to further a professional sports career.
Under the proposed rules, any student from the Military,Naval or Air Force Academy that “obtains employment as a professional athlete before completing commissioned service obligation” would be allowed to transfer to a recruiting billet in the reserves, pending approval from service officials.
That alternative reserve commitment could last up to 10 years, and would require the athletes to “participate in efforts to recruit and retain (military) members.”
In the past, academy athletes drafted by professional sports leagues or signed to free-agent contracts had been able to apply for waivers. But in 2022, lawmakers rescinded that policy, mandating that those service members complete at least two years of active duty service before being eligible for a waiver.
Regardless, Orie is content with his decision to attend the academy in Annapolis. He had some 20 other Division I offers, including Duquesne, Miami of Ohio, Cornell, Yale, Harvard, Robert Morris, Akron and Buffalo.
On his official visit Orie said that he fell in “love” with the campus and the facilities were nice. Plus, the Midshipmen were noted for their competitiveness. Even though they posted a 5-7 record in 2023, the Naval Academy has appeared in 24 bowl games.
“They play great football,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity.”
Noting he had cousins that attended West Point, the Naval Academy provided Orie the chance also to “experience” serving his country and acquiring a great education.
Orie plans to apply his 4.3 GPA towards earning a degree in the sciences with a secondary emphasis on economics.
Orie is a member of the DECA Club and National Honor Society at Bethel Park High School. In addition to belonging to service organizations, he is also a member of the school’s chess club.
“I love the strategy involved in the game,” he said. “I’m pretty decent at it.”
Orie is more than satisfactory at playing football. He will start his fourth year anchoring the Black Hawks’ defensive line as well as playing tight end on offense. As a junior, he garnered All-State accolades while making 65 tackles, 51 of them solo.
“His quick twitch off the ball is his strength and he’s really fine-tuned his craft since last year,” said BP head coach Phil Peckich. “He can really impact the game.”
Orie plans to make an immediate impact with the Midshipmen. He will not attend prep school.
“Obviously, I am going into my freshman year with the hopes of playing as much as I can,” he said. “I am going to do the best I can and get playing time.
“I know I have to put on weight for the position. Get stronger and play smarter as a defensive linemen because at that level the game is faster and the players will be bigger and stronger.
As for his long-range goals Orie added, “Pretty much, I just want us to have great seasons and maybe win some bowl games.”
Those objectives are paramount this fall for the Black Hawks. Orie hopes to direct Bethel Park to a conference championship as well as WPIAL and PIAA titles.
“Because I am a three-year starter, I’m expected to be a leader on the team and a key part of the defense. I don’t think too much about that because we all have high expectations this season.
“We have a lot of experience and really skilled players returning so I’m really excited for the team. I think we are going to be good and do great things.”
Great things are associated with the Orie moniker. His uncle, Kevin, played professional baseball for the Chicago Cubs. Several other uncles were athletic standouts at Ivy League universities. Orie’s father, Mike, excelled at Colgate. His mother, Paula, ran track at Marquette University.
“My parents played a huge part in my success,” Orie said. “They started me early and helped me develop great habits.”
Orie has a propensity for applying pressure on the quarterback. Last fall, he racked up eight sacks while also recording 19 quarterback hurries. He also managed eight tackles-for-losses.
“The best part of my game is my hustle,” he said. “I can get anywhere on the field.”
When he steps onto the field at the Naval Academy, Orie will not be alone. The Midshipmen list several area athletes on its 2024 roster, including the Mt. Lebanon tandem of Alex Tecza and Eli Heidenreich as well as Canon-McMillan’s Connor McMahon, a 6-4, 279-pound senior offensive tackle out of Canonsburg.
“It’s nice to have guys from the local area, especially those with success and who enjoy it,” Orie said.
Tecza and Heidenreich enjoyed extreme success on the gridiron, especially during their tenure at Mt. Lebanon. They both achieved all-state accolades while leading the Blue Devils to an undefeated 2021 season that included conference, WPIAL and PIAA championships.
A 6-0, 2-1-pound junior, who amassed 2,266 all-purpose yards and led the Lebo defense with 60 tackles and four interceptions, Heidenreich is a slotback at Navy. The son of David and Tara Heidenreich is majoring in cyber operations.
A 6-0, 204-pound junior, Tecza rushed for 2,085 yards and 26 TD at Lebo before emerging as Navy’s leading rusher. He averaged 63.2 yards per game last fall and scored five touchdowns. The son of Randy and Dana Tecza was an All-America fullback (third team) and an All-East selection last fall for the Navy. He, too, is a cyber operations major.