An FCS captain from Weber State who turned four years of blindside starts into a Broncos roster spot.
Gavin Ortega spent his college career grinding through the Big Sky Conference before signing with Denver as an undrafted free agent in 2026. The 6-foot-5, 304-pound lineman is now fighting for a rotational spot on the Broncos' offensive line after building a reputation as one of the FCS level's most experienced tackles.
Path to the league
Ortega entered Weber State as a three-star recruit in the 2022 class and played four seasons for the Wildcats, appearing in 41 games and making 35 career starts, primarily at left and right tackle. He went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft but signed with the Denver Broncos as a free agent shortly after.
Career highlights
Ortega was a two-time All-Big Sky selection who earned first-team all-conference and All-America recognition as a senior in 2025. He served as a team captain and started every game of his final three seasons, anchoring an offensive line that allowed just 14 sacks that year, the fewest in the Big Sky.
2025 season recap
In his final college season, Ortega started all 12 games for Weber State, working primarily at left tackle while wearing the captain's patch. His play earned him first-team All-Big Sky honors and helped fuel pre-draft interest from NFL teams despite his FCS pedigree, culminating in his signing with Denver as an undrafted free agent in May 2026.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Gavin Ortega
- Weber State Athletics: Gavin Ortega signs as free agent with Denver Broncos
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Offensive Tackle
- Group
- offense
- College
- Weber State
- Hometown
- Bellingham, WA, USA
- Age
- 22
- Status
- active
