Craig Ochs

Last updated

Craig Ochs
Personal information
Born: (1981-08-20) August 20, 1981 (age 43)
Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
College: Montana
Position: Quarterback
NFL draft: 2005: undrafted
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only

Craig Ochs (born August 20, 1981) is a former American football quarterback for the San Diego Chargers and Buffalo Bills in the National Football League (NFL) and was also assigned to the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe in the 2006 season.

Contents

Biography

Ochs played high school football at Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado, where he earned All-American honors. [1] He began his college football career with the Colorado Buffaloes in 2000. [2] At the time, Ochs was considered one of the top young quarterbacks in Division I. After he was sidelined due to a string of concussions, Ochs decided to transfer to the University of Montana and play for the Division I-AA Montana Grizzlies. In his senior season of 2004, Ochs rated among the top I-AA quarterbacks and led the Grizzlies to the national title game.

Going into 2005, Ochs was tabbed as a borderline draft pick. He went undrafted, however, in the 2005 NFL draft. Ochs signed on to play with the San Diego Chargers soon after the draft but was cut on August 25, 2005, before the regular season began. [3] [4] Ochs tried out with the Buffalo Bills during the NFL regular season but did not get an offer to sign with the team. He was also sought out by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL, but held out for another NFL opportunity.

Eventually, Buffalo offered Ochs a two-year contract after the season ended on January 9, 2006, as the team's third-string quarterback. The Bills allocated Ochs to the Frankfurt Galaxy in NFL Europa on January 19, 2006. On April 22, 2006, he got his first start for the Galaxy, leading Frankfurt to an 18–17 comeback win over the Berlin Thunder. Ochs led Frankfurt to a 7–3 record and a World Bowl title in 2006. [5]

Ochs suffered an injury in May 2006 and became a coach on offense for the University of Montana. He would later return to Colorado to attend a masters-through-law program at the University of Denver, with a focus on the natural resource law, after which he took up work in work with Acorn Petroleum—an oil and gas distribution company, which had been founded by his grand-father and great uncle—in Colorado Springs. [5]

College stats

Passing Stats
YearTeamGPassing
Att.-Comp.
YardsAvg.TDInt.Int Avg. %Pass
Rating
2000Colorado8245-1451,7787.2770123.8
2001Colorado7166-991,2207.3760128.0
2002Colorado203277.7224.7121.5
2003Montana9204-1211,6127.9983.9132.4
2004Montana15450-3093,8078.43381.7160.3
Totals411,107-6958,7447.858312.8140.8

Pro stats

Passing Stats
YearTeamGPassing
Att.-Comp.
YardsAvg.TDInt.Int Avg. %Pass
Rating
2005San Diego00-0000000
2006Frankfurt8142-841,0197.18642.883.6
2006Buffalo00-0000000
NFL Totals00-0000000

References

  1. "Ochs itching to return as Buffaloes' leader". Fort Worth Star-Telegram . Fort Worth, Texas. August 12, 2002. p. 8C. Retrieved July 4, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  2. Paul, Johnny (October 8, 2000). "Quick hits". Fort Worth Star-Telegram . Fort Worth, Texas. p. 3CC. Retrieved July 4, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  3. Stuber, Tom (April 25, 2005). "Big Sky players join in the fun on draft day". The Independent-Record . Helena, Montana. pp.  1B & 3B . Retrieved July 4, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Chargers release quarterback Ochs". The Daily Inter Lake . Kalispell, Montana. The Associated Press. August 30, 2005. p. B5. Retrieved July 4, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 Schwanke, Bill (June 10, 2010). "Ex-Griz QB has faced multiple crossroads". The Montana Standard . Butte, Montana. pp.  B1 & B7 . Retrieved July 4, 2025.