Perry Orth eyeing other options as football career winds down

Perry Orth was a thrust into the limelight last season after injuries to Connor Mitch and Lorenzo Nunez mixed with inconsistent quarterback play put the former walk-on in the starting spot.

Last season he went 1-7 as the starter and took the reigns to the Will Muschamp-led offense this season before giving way for the freshman tag team of Brandon McIlwain and Jake Bentley.

So the former SEC starter found himself in a place where he hadn’t been in almost two years: on the outside looking in. He said it’s been hard, but winning has proved somewhat of a remedy.

“Absolutely (it’s hard),” he said. “But when Jake’s out there laying well and doing his thing, it makes it a lot easier. He’s out there doing what he needs to do so it makes it easier for me.”

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With his football career two games away from finishing, he now has to focus on the next chapter of his life, which will most likely not include football.

The senior won’t pursue a career in professional football, focusing more on what he majored in: economics and marketing. Orth said he’s been talking to big companies like Boeing and IBM about potential job openings.

Will Muschamp, the coach who came in the last stretch of Orth’s career, has been right by the quarterback’s side the whole way.

“He’s been helping me with my next step in my life and the job search,” Orth said. “He told me multiple times if he needs to contact anybody for me he will and I’m very thankful for that.”

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Something Orth hasn’t considered is coaching, which has been an avenue for Gamecock players, like Marcus Lattimore. Orth said seeing what happened last year with coaches having to uproot families turned him off from the profession.

“Oh no,” he said when asked if he’d consider donning the headset. “Not after with what happened with last year’s staff having to bounce around like that. I think I could definitely call plays.”

But Orth’s playing days aren’t over just yet. The Gamecocks have two more regular season games left and if they win one more game they’ll travel for a bowl game.

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After that it’s cleat-hanging up time for Orth. Even though his career has had ups and down, he’s optimistic. He’s benefitting the program, acting as a mentor to the young quarterbacks, something that could benefit the Gamecocks for years to come.

“Everything hasn’t gone my way so far, but it’s about helping the team and doing whatever it takes,” he said. “I feel like I’ve done my part.”