Orson Charles
{{Short description|American football player (born 1991)}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Orson Charles
| image = Orson Charles Bengals camp 2012.jpg
| caption = Charles with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2012
| number = 80, 82, 84
| position = Tight end
Fullback
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|01|27|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Tampa, Florida, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lbs = 257
| high_school = Henry B. Plant (Tampa)
| college = Georgia
| draftyear = 2012
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 116
| pastteams =
- Cincinnati Bengals ({{NFL Year|2012}}–{{NFL Year|2013}})
- Tennessee Titans ({{NFL Year|2014}})*
- New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2014}}–{{NFL Year|2015}})*
- Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2016}})
- Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|2017}})
- Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2018}})
- Denver Broncos ({{NFL Year|2019}})
| highlights =
- First-team All-American (2011)
- First-team All-SEC (2011)
- Second-team All-SEC (2010)
| statweek =
| statseason =
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 14
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 185
| statlabel3 = Receiving average
| statvalue3 = 13.2
| statlabel4 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue4 =
| pfr = CharOr00
}}
Orson Charles (born January 27, 1991) is an American former professional football player who was a tight end and fullback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, earning first-team All-American honors as a tight end in 2011. Charles was selected by the Bengals in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL draft.
Early life
Charles attended Riverview High School before transferring to Henry B. Plant High School in Tampa, Florida for his senior year, where he was a teammate of Aaron Murray. During a recruiting visit to the University of Florida in 2008, Charles accidentally dropped the school's 2006 National Championship Trophy, breaking the Waterford Crystal football.{{Cite web |last=Cary |first=Tim |date=April 17, 2008 |title=Florida Gators Championship Trophy Shattered...Again! |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/18182-florida-gators-championship-trophy-shatteredagain |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}} He played in the 2009 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
College career
Charles was named a finalist for the 2011 John Mackey Award on November 21, 2011.{{Cite web |url=http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112111aas.html |title=Georgia's Orson Charles Named Mackey Award Finalist |access-date=November 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112185947/http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112111aas.html |archive-date=November 12, 2016 |url-status=dead }}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 2 1/2
| weight = 251
| dash = 4.73
| ten split = 1.66
| twenty split = 2.72
| shuttle = 4.37
| cone drill =
| vertical = 30.5
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 5
| bench = 35
| arm span = 32 1/2
| hand span = 9 1/4
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/orson-charles/32004348-4159-1533-6083-d9487e116550 |title=Orson Charles Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=July 17, 2022}}{{Cite web |url=http://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=89531&DraftYear=2012 |title=2012 Draft Scout Orson Charles, Georgia NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |website=draftscout.com |access-date=July 17, 2022}}
}}
=Cincinnati Bengals=
Charles was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round, 116th overall, of the 2012 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2012 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2012/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} In his rookie season, he played all 16 games, starting 6 of them, accumulating 8 receptions for 101 yards. In 2013 Charles played primarily at fullback; He played 13 games but started none and recorded one catch for eight yards.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/orsoncharles/2533047/profile|title=Orson Charles Stats, News and Video - TE|website=NFL.com}}
=Tennessee Titans =
Charles was signed to the practice squad of the Tennessee Titans on September 1, 2014. He was released on September 9, 2014.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CharOr00.htm | title=Orson Charles | publisher=pro-football-reference.com | accessdate=May 28, 2024}}
=New Orleans Saints=
On September 23, 2014, Charles was signed to the New Orleans Saints practice squad.
=Detroit Lions=
On June 16, 2016, Charles was signed by the Detroit Lions.{{cite news |url=http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2016/06/16/orson-charles-detroit-lions/85986232/ |title=Detroit Lions signing TE Orson Charles |last=Birkett |first=Dave |newspaper=Detroit Free Press |date=June 16, 2016 |access-date=June 16, 2016}} He was released on October 4, 2016.{{cite web|title=Lions sign TE Clay Harbor, release TE Orson Charles|url=http://www.detroitlions.com/news/news-short/article-1/Lions-sign-TE-Clay-Harbor-release-TE-Orson-Charles/edaebf3a-d0ef-46fe-ac94-d0e2a265e726|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221204405/http://www.detroitlions.com/news/news-short/article-1/Lions-sign-TE-Clay-Harbor-release-TE-Orson-Charles/edaebf3a-d0ef-46fe-ac94-d0e2a265e726|archive-date=2016-12-21|website=DetroitLions.com|date=October 4, 2016}}
=Kansas City Chiefs=
On May 31, 2017, Charles signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.{{cite web|title=Chiefs sign two players including TE Orson Charles|url=http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2017/6/1/15724490/chiefs-sign-two-players-including-te-orson-charles|author=Thorman, Joel|website=ArrowheadPride.com|date=June 1, 2017}} He was waived on September 2, 2017 and was signed to the Chiefs' practice squad the next day.{{cite web|title=Chiefs Roster Down to NFL Mandated 53|url=http://www.chiefs.com/news/article-2/Chiefs-Roster-Down-to-NFL-Mandated-53/29056cc8-800b-4a3f-be18-d873f2470e6b|website=Chiefs.com|date=September 2, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180603165651/http://www.chiefs.com/news/article-2/Chiefs-Roster-Down-to-NFL-Mandated-53/29056cc8-800b-4a3f-be18-d873f2470e6b|archive-date=June 3, 2018}}{{cite web|title=Chiefs Sign Eight to Practice Squad|url=http://www.chiefs.com/news/article-2/Chiefs-Sign-Eight-to-Practice-Squad/2095211c-8f3e-45d0-aa31-7a3c74e420b3|website=Chiefs.com|date=September 3, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180603173550/http://www.chiefs.com/news/article-2/Chiefs-Sign-Eight-to-Practice-Squad/2095211c-8f3e-45d0-aa31-7a3c74e420b3|archive-date=June 3, 2018}} He was released on October 7, 2017.{{cite web|title=Chiefs Sign TE Neal Sterling To Practice Squad, Release TE Orson Charles|url=http://nfltraderumors.co/chiefs-sign-te-neal-sterling-practice-squad-release-te-orson-charles/|date=October 7, 2017}} He was re-signed to the practice squad on October 25, 2017. He was promoted to the active roster on November 28, 2017.{{cite web|title=Chiefs promote TE Orson Charles to roster, sign DL to practice squad|url=http://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2017/11/28/chiefs-promote-te-orson-charles-to-roster-sign-dl-to-practice-squad/|website=USAToday.com|date=November 28, 2017}} He was waived by the Chiefs on May 3, 2018.{{cite web|title=Chiefs cut a pair of players|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/05/03/chiefs-cut-a-pair-of-players/|author=Alper, Josh|website=ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com|date=May 3, 2018}}
=Cleveland Browns=
On July 30, 2018, Charles signed with the Cleveland Browns.{{cite web|title=Browns sign 3 players|url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-sign-3-players|website=ClevelandBrowns.com|date=July 30, 2018}} He made the Browns final roster as the team's fourth tight end. Despite being listed as a tight end, Charles had lined up primarily as a fullback throughout the 2018 season. He appeared on the 2018 Pro Bowl ballot as a fullback, and Browns coaches have signaled they view him as such.{{cite news |last1=Edwards |first1=Josh |title=Browns' depth chart against the Panthers |url=https://247sports.com/nfl/cleveland-browns/ContentGallery/Browns-depth-chart-Week-14-Panthers-120409673/#120409673_5 |website=247Sports.com}} The Browns placed Charles on injured reserve with an ankle injury on December 13, 2018.{{cite web|title=Browns elevate LB Xavier Woodson-Luster to active roster|url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-elevate-lb-xavier-woodson-luster-to-active-roster|website=ClevelandBrowns.com|date=December 13, 2018}}
On April 3, 2019, Charles re-signed with the Browns.{{cite web|title=Browns sign TE/FB Orson Charles|url=https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/browns-sign-te-fb-orson-charles|website=ClevelandBrowns.com|date=April 3, 2019}} The Browns waived Charles on August 11, 2019.
=Denver Broncos=
On August 21, 2019, Charles signed with the Denver Broncos.{{cite web|title=Broncos sign TE/FB Orson Charles, claim OLB Dadi Nicolas, OL Tyler Jones|url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-sign-te-fb-orson-charles-claim-olb-dadi-nicolas-ol-tyler-jones|author=DiLalla, Aric|website=DenverBroncos.com|date=August 21, 2019}} He was released on August 31, 2019.{{cite web|title=Broncos make series of roster moves to reach 53-man limit|url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-make-series-of-roster-moves-to-reach-53-man-limit|author=DiLalla, Aric|website=DenverBroncos.com|date=August 31, 2019}} He was re-signed on November 19, 2019, but was released three days later.{{cite web|title=Broncos sign TE Orson Charles, place FB Andy Janovich on IR|url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-sign-te-orson-charles-place-fb-andy-janovich-on-ir|author=DiLalla, Aric|website=DenverBroncos.com|date=November 19, 2019}}
Charles was drafted in the 6th round of the 2020 XFL Draft by the DC Defenders,{{cite web|last=Bender|first=Bill|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/xfl-draft-tracker-results-picks-list-rosters-football-league/jahz8p84e4i61hb8lajqs4a22|title=XFL Draft picks 2019: Complete results, rosters, players for new football league|website=Sporting News|date=October 21, 2019|access-date=October 23, 2019}} but did not sign with the team.
Legal troubles
Shortly before the 2012 NFL Draft, Charles was arrested for a DUI.
On March 31, 2014, Charles was arrested for wanton endangerment in Richmond, Kentucky. Charles was pulled over by a police officer after another driver called in a complaint that Charles had shown a gun multiple times.{{Cite web |last=Harvey |first=Coley |date=2014-04-01 |title=Cops: Bengals' Charles in road rage incident |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/10708378/orson-charles-cincinnati-bengals-arrested |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} In February 2015 Charles pleaded guilty to wanton endangerment and will enter a diversion program.[http://kickoffcoverage.com/saints-te-orson-charles-pleads-guilty-in-road-rage-incident/ Saints TE Orson Charles pleads guilty in road rage incident - http://kickoffcoverage.com - 2/27/2015]
On July 16, 2022, Charles was arrested for pulling a gun on off-duty police officers in Tampa, Florida.{{cite web|title=Former Browns, Bengals tight end Orson Charles arrested after pulling gun on off-duty officers, per report|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/former-browns-bengals-tight-end-orson-charles-arrested-after-pulling-gun-on-off-duty-officers-per-report/ |author=Benjamin, Cody|website=cbssports.com|date=July 17, 2022}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120604224744/http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/charles_orson00.html Georgia Bulldogs bio]
- {{commonscatinline}}
{{Cincinnati Bengals 2012 draft navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Charles, Orson}}
Category:Players of American football from Tampa, Florida
Category:American football tight ends
Category:Georgia Bulldogs football players
Category:Cincinnati Bengals players
Category:New Orleans Saints players
Category:Detroit Lions players
Category:Kansas City Chiefs players
Category:Cleveland Browns players
Category:Denver Broncos players