Mike Lorello

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Mike Lorello
Date of birth	October 15, 1983
Place of birth	Powell, Ohio
Position(s)	Defensive Back
College	West Virginia
NFL Draft	2006 / Round Undrafted
Team(s)
2006-present	Pittsburgh Steelers

Mike Lorello (born October 15, 1983 in Powell, Ohio) was an American football player for the West Virginia Mountaineers as a safety. Lorello is now on the practice squad for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

[edit] Early life

Mike Lorello was born in Ohio to Raymond and Linda Lorello. Mike was a member of the five-time state champion soccer team, basketball team, and lacrosse teams along with football. Lorello 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. Lorello recorded 110 tackles, six interceptions, and blocked two kicks as a senior in 2001.

[edit] College career

Mike Lorello enrolled at West Virginia University in 2002, where as a freshman he played bandit and free safety, while seeing special teams action. Lorello started in the game against Rutgers, where he made three tackles. Lorello also had two tackles and a tackle for a loss in the bowl game against the University of Virginia.

As a sophomore in 2003, Lorello started at bandit safety, where he recorded 106 tackles as a true sophomore. Lorello tallied up 12 tackles against the Wisconsin Badgers and four tackles for a loss (third best on WVU single-game record), 13 tackles against the University of Cincinnati, 12 tackles and three pass break-ups against the Miami Hurricanes, 10 tackles and his first career interception against Rutgers, and seven tackles and a fumble recovery that led to a score against Virginia Tech. Lorello was hurt playing against the University of Syracuse, but returned for the Gator Bowl, where he recorded 10 tackles and a 14-yard sack. He was named the Big East Defensive Player of the Week against Wisconsin, and Defensive MVP against Cincinnati and Rutgers.

In his 2004 junior season, Lorello was on the squad of Mountaineers that included Rasheed Marshall, Chris Henry, Kay-Jay Harris, and 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. Lorello had a fumble recovery against the University of Maryland and four tackles, seven tackles against the Virginia Tech Hokies, two second-half interceptions against Conneticutt, one that went for a score, blocked a field goal against Syracuse, eight tackles and a fumble recovery against Rutgers, but broke his arm in the Gator Bowl against Florida State. Although he was injured, Lorello recorded six tackles and a sack against the Florida State Seminoles. Lorello was Big East Player of the Week against Rutgers, Defensive MVP against University of Central Florida and Rutgers, and received Special Teams honors against Syracuse. Lorello was awarded the Ideal Mountaineer Man Award from his West Virginia coaches, and the 2004 Iron Mountaineer Award during winter practice.

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 2006 Sugar Bowl win against the Georgia Bulldogs. Lorello led the Mountaineers with 82 tackles and was awarded All-Big East honors for the second year in a row. Lorello recorded 7 sacks in '05 and three interceptions.

[edit] Pro career

Lorello was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers on May 2, 2006 as an undrafted free agent after the 2006 NFL Draft. Lorello was moved to the practice squad prior to the season, but was released on September 2, 2006. After the end of the Steelers' disappointing '06 season, Lorello was signed to the Steelers official roster on January 5, 2007.

Lorello is on the squad with fellow-Mountaineer and safety, Mike Logan, who is uncertain about his future playing football.