Lake Gibson’s Hunter Orem can say his future in football is as up-in-the-air like a perfect fade. This isn’t a bad thing however as the Braves starting QB/LB/S gets prepared for Xecutives and for what could be a dream season both individually and as a member of a squad that’s loaded for a possible run to Orlando.

His movement from offense to defense better simulates a tennis match with all of the back-and-forth, but it has been relatively seamless. Concentrating on one position may be what’s best for the teams’ goals at this point which is something Orem is perfectly fine with. One thing he’s also perfectly fine with is his self-confidence to do whatever is necessary to help his Braves win on the field while preparing himself for the next level off the field.

Orem began last spring as the signal-caller for Lake Gibson, but it wasn’t necessarily by design. Although he was named an Xecutive last summer as a QB and was on the radar as one well before May of 2014, it was someone else’s job once the incumbent returned from injury. That senior went on to post nearly 1,750 yards of total offense and sixteen touchdowns.

“I started last spring as quarterback because Casey Whitaker ended up breaking his thumb a week before the spring game,” said Orem. “He broke his right thumb on his throwing hand so I had to step in for us in that game, then I moved to DB whenever that Lakeland game came around and they tossed me back there and I ended up getting a pick and I think that’s when everybody decided I needed to be back there more.”

Orem went on to post modest numbers on the defensive side of the ball in 2014 for Lake Gibson playing a hybrid of outside linebacker, strong safety and free safety putting up 30 tackles and three pass deflections. The 6-foot-2, 203-pounder does bring excellent game speed and physicality to the spot. His grinder mentality at breaking down film should help him even more when it comes to reading the situation and making plays. He also caught six passes for 73 yards during the course of the campaign as well.

It’s the mesh of playing QB and at the spot that’s trying to beat the QB that’s made Orem’s progress intriguing to track.

“Playing QB, that definitely helps playing at DB with that kind of mindset already having sort of an idea what a DB is thinking what he’s thing leverage-wise and those sorts of reads that come pre-snap. It’s just a big help and I do think playing DB has helped me with playing quarterback as well.”

Orem realizes he’s not the only one that, if asked to play more of an exclusive role this season on offense that the defense is in perfectly capable hands.

“As of right now we have a lot of defensive backs like Derrien Bomar is one of our big ones, and we have AJ Deshazor that’s playing more of an outside linebacker, we have Nick Taylor that was a freshman last season and then we have AJ Jones who’s been doing real good this offseason, so we have a lot of talent that is ready to handle the load while I’m out there on the offensive side.”

With all of the talk swirling around Orem’s back-up 2017-prospect Dalton Jenner heading to Victory Christian which leaves a freshman to take control of things should something go wrong, he knows that his focus on the offensive side of the ball will ultimately have to come as the priority for the teams’ sake.

“I know they’ll be fine without me, but I feel like if they can throw me in there for situational type things like third-and-forever and the opposing team needs a first down to win the game or whatever they could do to throw me back there to do something would be awesome.”

Orem’s developing skills at both spots can cause a somewhat enigmatic situation.

“It’s confusing sometimes because I want to do it all, but I know I’m not going to be able to (at the next level) because of how the coaches at the next level will want to use me and all, but I want to be able to play it all if I can, but I know I’m not going to be able to realistically; especially the important role at the QB position that’s needed.”

The question still remains unanswered at this time whether or not he’s actually made up his mind what he wants to play at the next level; or does it? It seems like he’s in no rush to decide and who can blame him? There’s been enough production from both sides of the ball to garner interest and even his first offer this past weekend in Miami at FIU’s camp.

“I’m not entirely sure (about which position) I solely want to focus on for the next level because I do want to play quarterback. That’s always been one of the three main positions I’ve always wanted to be at like safety, wide receiver or quarterback. As far as the safety goes, I can be brought down into an outside linebacker position or be back there in a strong position in two-high or I can be back there at free in a one-high scenario. I’ve been thinking about that a lot recently and had to think about ultimately what’s going to give me the best chance at the next level. I’m still not sure, but I do know that I like to jump up for the ball and make plays. Either way it goes down, I know I can do some things at receiver as well. I really do like going up for the ball at either defensive back or receiver, but then again I’ve always had love for the quarterback position.”

The Braves went 9-2 last season and are poised to be just-as-good-if-not-better than last season, but it won’t come easy and it won’t come without some extra hours at the office.

“We DO have a pretty good schedule and some tough games to start. It’s been a little bit of both (in terms of summer and fall prep). I’ve been going to these camps as both a quarterback and a defensive back. I want to be able to do both at these camps and sometimes you just can’t, though. As far as the prep for the season specifically at the quarterback position I’ve been doing a lot of film work staying after picking Coach DeMyer’s brain and things like that, trying to ask my coaches what I can do to adjust and all of those things that can help me gain that edge and get better prepared for the season.”

As mentioned, Orem received his first offer from Florida International over the weekend and the reason for it he says is the reason why we love prospects like him so much. There’s confidence, but not arrogance plus the grades to pick-and-choose where he wants to go. His choices in terms of fitting his academic dreams and aspirations of someday becoming a member of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) are as across-the-board and as eclectic as his skill set.

“I’m hoping and I’m expecting more (offers) to come and I definitely want to keep my options open and that also goes for colleges whether it’s for academics or choosing a program based on the position they’ll play me at as well. Besides the offer from FIU, I’ve received interests from FAU, Miami, University of Tennessee-Martin, Iowa State, Bucknell, North Dakota State, Cornell, Princeton and Yale.”

Where to begin with that list? Like we said, it’s eclectic. Interesting that the 1-AA Dynasty known as the NDSU Bison would peak his interest all the way from the Sunshine State, but it’s justified on both sides.

“In recent years, I’ve come to know them (North Dakota State as that dynasty) and as I started talking to some people and they started contacting me along with some additional research to try and see what they were about, they do interest me because I love what they’re about and the way they go about things up there.”

So with all of that confidence that’s authentic and not in any way over-the-top; all of that diversity in terms of positions as well as the classroom, what specifically got him his first offer in Miami this past weekend? Nothing specific actually. Just good old-fashioned footballin’…

“The coach that offered me at FIU says he’s not sure what (position) I”m gonna play yet, he just said that I’m a good football player, so that’s just awesome. I wish a lot of other coaches felt that way, but I guess it’s just a process.”