AZUSA, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific long snapper Matt Orzech signed an NFL free agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens shortly after last weekend's NFL Draft, one of 17 signings announced by the Ravens on Friday (official announcement).

The 6-foot-3, 246-pound Orzech is the eighth player from Azusa Pacific over the past seven years to earn an opportunity to play professionally, and his NFL journey begins this weekend at the Ravens' rookie minicamp.

"Matt is a selfless player who took the opportunity the coaches presented and ran with it," Azusa Pacific head coach Victor Santa Cruz said. "His journey epitomizes our process of building champions. He came in as a solid athlete, and he converted himself into a life champion and next-level difference maker. It's exciting to coach the type of talent this university attracts."

Orzech's collegiate career at Azusa Pacific spanned six years, starting when he arrived in the fall of 2013 as a two-sport athlete intending to play football and baseball for the Cougars. Recruited as a tight end, he found himself on the field as a true freshman after injuries opened up a spot on the depth chart at long snapper. The week of the season opener, Orzech offered to try out the position, and he got his introduction to college football in front of 13,659 fans at NCAA Division II power Grand Valley State.

He played in 32 games over his first three seasons before missing the entire 2016 season due to injury. He returned as a fifth-year senior 2017, but he suffered a season-ending injury while blocking during the second game of the season. He was granted a sixth year of eligibility as a medical redshirt, returning for a healthy 2018 campaign and emerging as a pro prospect with his performance on the field and postseason workouts.

"When I got hurt in 2017, I was optimistic about making a fast recovery and getting back for the end of the season, but with a few weeks left in the season, I still didn't have full mobility and wasn't as strong as I wanted," Orzech recalled.

"That really hurt me because I felt like I abandoned the team, but I was really excited to get a full season back with the team. That extra year really helped me, because as I worked with the coaches, their encouragement helped confirm that this was a possibility. Every day can be your last moment playing football, so I tried to have as much fun as I could and enjoy my time with my teammates at Azusa Pacific."

A March 21 workout in front of NFL scouts at UCLA's Pro Day cemented Orzech as a legitimate pro prospect, as he registered a 40-yard dash time of 4.87 with 21 reps at the bench press. He also posted a 35-inch vertical leap, a 10-foot, 5-inch broad jump, and times of 4.28 in the 20-yard shuttle and 7.28 in the three-cone drill.

"I've had more growth at Azusa Pacific than I could have imagined coming out of high school," Orzech said. "I credit becoming the man I am today to every one of my coaches, trainers, professors, and staff members who have all challenged me in different ways to grow into something I wouldn't even recognize as a freshman. Azusa Pacific is an amazing place of growth, and it's been the most rewarding experience to have the type of development I experienced both on and off the field."

Azusa Pacific Players In Pro Football (since 2013)
2013: Luke Marquardt (undrafted free agent)
2014: Terrell Watson (undrafted free agent)
2014: Cody Clay (undrafted free agent)
2014: Tyler Thornton (CFL)
2016: Josh Atkinson (rookie mini-camp)
2016: Paul Flores (rookie mini-camp)
2016: D.J. Morgan (rookie mini-camp)
2019: Matt Orzech (undrafted free agent)