Orange demonstrated commitment to conditioning over his collegiate career.
By his freshman season at North High School (North Kansas City, Missouri), Orange had weighed 300 pounds. He surpassed 400 pounds as a senior. Orange saw college teams withdraw from recruiting him due to his weight, however, and he dedicated himself to improving nutrition and training, dropping to 325 pounds by his junior season at Iowa State.
His official NFL Draft bio lists him at 6-foot-2 3/8 and 322 pounds.
Though he didn’t initially appreciate the nickname that originated on social media, Orange said he’s come to embrace it.
“At first I’m like, ‘Nah, I don’t like that.’ But fans started calling me Big Citrus. My coaches started calling me Big Citrus,” Orange said, “and I’m like, ‘You know what?’ It is kind of sticking to me, so that’s rock with it. I love the name now.”
Orange is excited to return to Minnesota, where he had a Top 30 visit with the Vikings earlier this spring.
He admitted when Vikings coaches told him they planned to draft him if he was available Day 2, he wasn’t sure how seriously to take them.
“Anybody could say that,” Orange said. “But the fact they actually stood on it and kept their word, I’m forever grateful.”
As is his family, who celebrated alongside Orange Friday night.
