Ralph Ortiz

Position:
Linebacker
Height:
6-1
Weight:
226
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Jacksonville, Fla.
High School:
Lake Minneola
Prev School:
Univ. of West Florida

CAREER HONORS
• 2024 First Team All-Gulf South Conference
• 2023 Gulf South Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year
• 2023 Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Week (West Georgia, North Greenville, Shorter)

2024 AT UNIV. OF WEST FLORIDA: Started all 10 games en route to First Team All-Gulf South Conference honors... Totaled 33 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, an interception, a pass breakup and a forced fumble on the season... Tied for ninth in the Gulf South Conference in sacks, while he finished ninth in TFLs and tied for first in interception-return touchdowns... Started the season strong with 26 tackles and 6.0 TFLs over the first three games of the season... Opened the year with a career-high 10 tackles and 3.0 tackles for loss against McKendree, while he returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown... Also broke up another pass and forced a fumble against the Bearcats... Had seven tackles and 2.0 TFLs against West Alabama before tallying nine tackles and a TFL at Grand Valley State... Recorded sacks against Delta State, Chowan and Erskine.

2023 AT UNIV. OF WEST FLORIDA: Played in 12 games with 11 starts as he was named the Gulf South Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year... Collected 40 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, a sack, three interceptions and 10 total passes defended on the season... Tied for third in the conference in interceptions, sixth in passes defended and tied for first in interception-return touchdowns... Earned Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Week honors in three-consecutive weeks following games against West Georgia, North Greenville and Shorter... Recorded a season-high seven tackles at Mississippi College, while he had five at Florida A&M and Delta State... Posted a season-best 2.0 TFLs, which included a sack, at McKendree... Returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown against West Georgia... Tallied a career-high three pass breakups at North Greenville, while he had an interception and a pass breakup against Shorter.

2022 AT UNIV. OF WEST FLORIDA: Redshirted.

HIGH SCHOOL: Played at Lake Minneola High School under head coach Walter Banks... Named an all-area defensive back by the Daily Commercial in addition to being named the most valuable defensive back... Helped lead the Hawks to the state championship game as a junior... Selected to participate in the Cure Classic All-Star Game between Orange and Seminole Counties... Came away with 104 tackles, 22.0 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, three interceptions and eight total passes defended during his prep career.

PERSONAL: Ralph Ortiz was born February 9, 2004, in Henrico, Virginia... Son of Ralph and Jeneice Ortiz... Has three siblings, Khaila, Chelsea and Amanda... A management major.