Colby Sorsdal Bio
Colby Sorsdal (born March 1, 2000) is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and listed at 315 pounds, he plays a key role on the offensive line. He attended Mt. Lebanon High School in Pennsylvania and went on to play college football for the William & Mary Tribe. Sorsdal entered the NFL when the Detroit Lions selected him in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Early Life and Background
Colby Sorsdal was born on March 1, 2000, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He grew up in the Pittsburgh area and attended Mt. Lebanon High School, located in the nearby community of Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. During his high school years, he developed into a promising offensive line prospect, drawing attention from several college football programs across the country.
After completing his time at Mt. Lebanon, Sorsdal faced a meaningful decision about his college future. He ultimately committed to play college football at the College of William & Mary, choosing the historic Colonial Athletic Association program over scholarship offers from Central Florida and Ball State. His decision to attend a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) program reflected his belief in the school’s football culture and his own development path as a young lineman.
Path to Professional Football
Sorsdal’s path to the NFL began in earnest at the College of William & Mary, where he spent five seasons with the Tribe between 2018 and 2022. Over the course of his college career, he started in 46 games, an unusually heavy workload that reflected both his durability and the coaching staff’s trust in his ability to protect the quarterback week after week. Playing at the FCS level gave him extensive game experience against quality competition.
His development at William & Mary earned him growing recognition. In 2021, he was named Third-team All-Coastal Athletic Association (CAA), establishing himself as a reliable contributor on the offensive line. The following year, as a senior in 2022, his performance elevated significantly, earning First-team All-CAA honors and First-team FCS All-American recognition. By the time he declared for the 2023 NFL Draft, Sorsdal had built a résumé that combined positional experience, conference accolades, and national recognition at the FCS level.
Colby Sorsdal Career
Early Career (2023)
Colby Sorsdal was selected by the Detroit Lions in the fifth round, 152nd overall, of the 2023 NFL Draft. The Lions, an organization in the midst of building a young and competitive roster, added him to provide depth and developmental upside along the offensive line. As a rookie, he joined a unit that featured a mix of established veterans and rising young players.
During his first NFL season, Sorsdal appeared in 16 regular season games for the Detroit Lions. He made his first career NFL start in Week 8 against the Las Vegas Raiders, a milestone that reflected the team’s growing confidence in his readiness. Across the 2023 season, he started three games while continuing to develop his technique and conditioning at the professional level.
Detroit Lions Era (2023–Present)
Sorsdal has spent his entire professional career with the Detroit Lions, the organization that drafted him in 2023. His role on the offensive line has been as a developmental tackle, contributing in spot starts and on special teams units while absorbing the demands of NFL competition. The Lions’ investment in his development reflected their long-term view of his potential as a starting-caliber offensive lineman.
As of the 2025 season, Sorsdal had appeared in 17 career NFL games, with three career starts to his credit. On August 10, 2025, he was placed on injured reserve, a setback that interrupted his on-field development. Despite the injury, his standing within the Detroit Lions organization remained intact as he worked through his recovery.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining early moments of Sorsdal’s professional career came in Week 8 of the 2023 season, when he made his first career start against the Las Vegas Raiders. The appearance marked his transition from depth contributor to active member of the starting rotation. Combined with his 16 games played as a rookie, the milestone underscored the trust Detroit placed in a Day 3 draft pick who had come from the FCS level.
Colby Sorsdal Career Wins
As an offensive lineman, Colby Sorsdal’s contributions are measured less by individual victories and more by his role in team success and his personal development across professional levels. His résumé includes a First-team FCS All-American selection in 2022, a First-team All-CAA selection in 2022, and a Third-team All-CAA selection in 2021. Across his NFL tenure with the Detroit Lions, he has accumulated 17 career games played and three career starts as of the 2025 season.
College Highlights
During his five seasons at the College of William & Mary, Sorsdal started 46 games for the Tribe, an impressive workload for any offensive lineman. His senior season in 2022 was the most decorated, earning both First-team All-CAA and First-team FCS All-American honors. The following year, 2021, had already produced a Third-team All-CAA selection, signaling his steady rise within the conference. The combination of his heavy starting load and his postseason recognition positioned him as one of the most experienced offensive line prospects in his draft class.
Professional Milestones
In the NFL, Sorsdal’s most notable professional milestones center on his development path with the Detroit Lions. He made his first career start in Week 8 of the 2023 season against the Las Vegas Raiders. He went on to play 16 games as a rookie, including three starts, and reached 17 career games played by the 2025 season. On August 10, 2025, he was placed on injured reserve.
Colby Sorsdal Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Colby Sorsdal was raised in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, area, where he attended Mt. Lebanon High School in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Public details about his parents, siblings, and extended family are limited, and he has kept most of his personal and family life private. His connection to the Pittsburgh region has remained a steady part of his identity as he has pursued his professional football career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented another important development year for Colby Sorsdal within the Detroit Lions organization. He continued to be part of the team’s offensive line rotation, building on the experience he gained during his rookie season. His career totals entering the year included 17 games played and three starts, numbers that reflected a player steadily working toward a larger role.
Sorsdal’s 2025 season took a difficult turn on August 10, 2025, when he was placed on injured reserve. The placement interrupted his opportunity to compete for additional snaps early in the season and required him to focus on recovery and rehabilitation. Despite the setback, his prior work in 16 games as a rookie in 2023 demonstrated his ability to contribute when healthy.
Looking ahead, Sorsdal’s outlook with the Detroit Lions remains tied to his recovery from injury and his continued development as an offensive tackle. His combination of size, college experience, and NFL game action has given the organization a foundation to work with. The 2025 season, though interrupted, will likely be remembered as a period in which he worked to return to the field and reclaim his role in the offensive line rotation.