A game-breaking performer as a wide receiver and punt return specialist, All-American Mark Orlando finished his career as Towson’s all-time leader in pass receiving yardage, touchdown receptions and punt return yardage.
In his four-year career, Mark caught 178 passes for 3,460 yards and 31 touchdowns. Currently the fourth-leading receiver in school history, he still holds school records for career receiving yards, reception average and pass receptions for touchdowns. During his career, he averaged an amazing 19.4 yards per catch.
Mark is also Towson’s all-time punt return leader. From 1991 to 1994, he amassed 644 yards on 41 punt returns, a 15.7 average. As a senior, he led NCAA Division I-AA by averaging 19.8 yards per punt return. He had 19 punt returns for 377 yards and one touchdown.
In 1994, Mark led the Tigers with 55 receptions for a school record 1,223 yards, an amazing 22.2 average. His 12 TD catches tied the school record although he missed the final game of his career with an injury.
As a senior, he had four 200-yard receiving games. In the Tigers’ 48-6 win over American International, he caught 11 passes for a school record 266 yards and three touchdowns. In a 36-31 victory over Kutztown, he caught ten passes for 244 yards and one TD. Mark also led the Tigers to a 32-16 win over Buffalo by catching nine passes for 238 yards and a pair of touchdowns. At Bucknell, he had ten receptions for 200 yards and two touchdowns.
In the history of the Tiger football program, there have been 13 games in which a receiver has 200 or more yards worth of receptions. Mark owns four of those performances, including the top three single game receiving yardage totals.
Named as a first team All-American wide receiver in 1994, Mark helped the Tigers post back-to-back 8-2 records in 1993 and 1994.
In his junior season, he led the Tigers with 44 receptions for 821 and caught eight touchdown passes.
As a sophomore in 1992, Mark caught 35 passes for 730 yards and eight touchdowns, including a memorable game-winning 10-yard TD pass from Dan Crowley on the final play of Towson’s 33-32 win over Northeastern. In his freshman season, he had 44 receptions for 686 yards and three touchdowns.
With 33 career touchdowns, he has the third-highest total in school history. With 200 career points, he ranks fourth on the all-time scoring list.
After graduating from Towson with his B.S. degree in Biology, the Eldersburg, Maryland native earned a free agent tryout with the San Francisco 49ers.
Although he didn’t make the team, he was signed by the Baltimore Stallions of the Canadian Football League in time for the 1995 season. As a wide receiver, he caught six passes for 125 yards and one touchdown and was part of the Stallions’ Grey Cup championship team. When the Stallions beat Calgary to win the Grey Cup, they became the only American team to win the CFL championship.
Since 1998, Mark has worked for CGI Technologies as a senior consultant. He resides in Manassas, Va. with his wife, Julie, and their three young children.
