Mar 5, 2017 By Jim Wexell for The 3 min read

INDIANAPOLIS — Legendary linebacker Bill George was born in Waynesburg just two days before the stock market crashed to kickstart the Great Depression.

Of course, there was nothing depressing about George’s football career, which took him from Waynesburg to Wake Forest to the Chicago Bears, where he became the NFL’s first true middle linebacker in 1954.

That was the year George stepped back from the middle of a five-man front and gave birth to a new position, and he played it so well he was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974.

George’s name was mentioned Friday from the podium of the NFL Combine by a young tight end who’s hoping to follow in those footsteps and become the next great NFL player from Waynesburg.

“The last one we had was Bill George, Hall of Fame linebacker in the ’50s and ’60s,” said Scott Orndoff. “He’s the big name for the football program at Waynesburg.”

Orndoff didn’t play at Waynesburg High, but instead at Seton-LaSalle High, where he was a two-time All-State performer. The son of a former USFL player became a highly regarded recruit for Pitt, where Orndoff started immediately.

His freshman season ended after five games with a knee injury, and as a sophomore and junior Orndoff caught only 17 passes. But he broke out as a senior last year with 35 catches for 579 yards and five touchdowns to finish second on the team in all categories.

Orndoff’s shining moment last season coincided with his team’s as Orndoff caught nine passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns in Pitt’s upset of eventual national champion Clemson.

Orndoff also played a key role in Pitt’s win over Georgia Tech. His 74-yard touchdown catch with 3:50 left tied a game Pitt eventually won with a field goal as time expired.

His career numbers at Pitt — 58 catches for 897 yards (15.5 avg.) and 13 touchdowns — topped those of legendary Pitt tight end Mike Ditka (45-730-7), but it came as no surprise that Orndorff looked up to another local legend at the position during his college career.

“My favorite tight end growing up was always Heath Miller,” Ordnoff said. “I was a Steelers fan. I realize it more now than I did when he was still playing, but he was just a complete, solid tight end. He was a reliable pass-catcher. He was out there first through third down and it seemed like anytime they needed him to make a play he came down with it.”

Orndoff just might get a chance to help fill Miller’s void with the Steelers. The Pitt grad (three-time ACC All-Academic team member) met Thursday night with Steelers tight ends coach James Daniel at the Combine after measuring in at 6-5, 253. Orndoff’s playmaking skills have made him an under-the-radar prospect in a deep class of tight ends.

“I’ll go wherever this process takes me,” Ordoff said. “I’m excited. It doesn’t matter where I go. I know I’ll give it everything I have wherever in the country I end up. I know I have my support system back home. They’re excited for me and I’m excited for this process, so, yeah, wherever I end up going, it will be a blessing for me.”