Two of his Coral Gables Cavaliers football teammates, defensive back Neal Colzie and fullback-linebacker Glenn Cameron, were first-round 1975 NFL draft picks of the Oakland Raiders and Cincinnati Bengals, respectively.

Ortega's big play was a crushing tackle that caused a fumble by Auburn tailback Chris Linderman inside the Gators' five yard-line shortly before halftime.

Ortega finished his four-season college career with 357 tackles, twelve forced fumbles (eight recovered), and five interceptions.

[9] He was a starting linebacker in 1977, and a key component of the renowned "Grits Blitz" Falcons defense, before being relegated to special teams in 1978.

[4] Ortega's son, Buck Ortega, played college football for the Miami Hurricanes as a quarterback and tight end from 2001 to 2004, after winning the Florida Class 2A state high school football championship as the quarterback for Gulliver Preparatory School in 2000.

Ortega served as an assistant coach for his son's Gulliver Prep team, and had a close mentor relationship with future NFL star defensive back Sean Taylor, one of his son's Gulliver Prep teammates and close friends.