How QB Perry Orth was coaxed out of retirement to help a few Gamecocks in need

Perry Orth leaned back in a fold-up chair along the sidelines Monday afternoon in the Jerri and Steve Spurrier Indoor Football Facility.

To his right, a faded pair of white-and-garnet cleats scuffed with mud sat on the turf. The boots had been used a few times in the years since Orth’s senior college season in 2016, though more for intramural kickball games than any real football action.

But after a call from Gamecocks receiver Josh Vann last week, Orth had to dig up the cleats he wore his final season at South Carolina for his first real throwing session in four years as the emergency quarterback at USC’s NFL Pro Day on Monday.

“I took two ibuprofen before I got here to make sure I was ready,” Orth said, tongue-in-cheek.

It’s been six years since Orth, now a local high school assistant coach at Cardinal Newman, last suited up for the Gamecocks. He still spins the ball occasionally during private training sessions and his work with the Cardinals, but nothing as serious as unfurling passes and timing routes in front of NFL scouts (though he did throw to Deebo Samuel during his pro day in 2019).

That was until Vann reached out.

Seeking a quarterback to throw to him during Pro Day, Vann hit up receiver Dakereon Joyner to see if he knew of anyone local who could fill the role. Joyner, who had a previous relationship with Orth, connected the two.

Vann, though, wasn’t the only Gamecock in need of a quarterback. Charlotte signal-caller Chris Reynolds was initially slated to throw for Jalen Brooks, but couldn’t make it to Pro Day. So, just as he did with Vann, Orth stepped in.

“Man, Perry Orth came in here and threw his arm out,” Brooks joked. “I appreciate him taking the time because not many people would take that time to come out here and do that.”

Added Vann: “It was crazy because we were actually working out the first day, he got there and was trying to throw his shoulder out. He threw the ball so hard I couldn’t catch it. I’m like, ‘Man, you need to save that.’ ”

Orth and Vann linked up twice over the last five days, throwing inside the indoor facility to work on their timing. Orth conceded that the first session Friday took some time to shake off the rust. The next day came a smidge easier. Monday, he said, was their best day of work.

“You’re throwing balls in front of 32 NFL teams. You want to put on a good show at least,” Orth said. “More importantly, you want the guys that are doing their pro day to benefit from it. With the DBs, you try to have a little bit more touch so you can catch a nice, easy, casual ball. And really same with the receivers, but when they’re getting in and out of their breaks, they want to catch a good firm pass, tuck it and get up field. They don’t want to be waiting on the ball.”

Despite downplaying his own effort through a few laughs, Orth flashed the arm that helped the Gamecocks in spurts over his four years in Columbia. He unloaded deep balls to Vann and Brooks streaking down the left sideline. He floated a handful of passes toward the corners of the end zones to defensive backs Darius Rush, Cam Smith and Devonni Reed.

Toward the tail end of the workout, Orth took a few nimble steps and uncorked a long ball toward a streaking Vann up the hash marks. Vann, who clocked a 4.43-second 40-yard dash earlier in the day, couldn’t catch up to the ball.

“As soon as I let go I said, ‘Nooooo,’ ” Orth said melodramatically. “The ball came out too hot.”

Dipping out of the Gamecocks’ practice facility shortly after workouts wrapped up, Orth snuck into his Toyota SUV for a quick phone call. His full-time job selling insurance had some business he needed to attend to.

After wrapping up his call, Orth came back inside as scouts began to trickle out of the facility. Family members lined the sideline for those South Carolina players that participated in the day’s events. Orth’s parents, Rusty and Anna, coincidentally, were in town this week from Florida and stopped by to watch.

Snagging the provided Chick-fil-A boxed meal provided for participants, Orth headed off the field one last time. Those cleats he rustled up are likely to be tossed into the back of the closet again in short order.

That is, unless an NFL team decides it needs a veteran arm in training camp.

“I hope that the Jets appreciated that,” Orth said, smirking. “I hear they have an open QB spot.”