Domonique 'Big Citrus' Orange's nickname, explained

TL;DR

Domonique Orange, a 322-pound nose tackle from Iowa State, is projected to be a mid-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. His nickname 'Big Citrus' originated from a meeting with his nutritionist, who found it on social media.

Key points

Domonique Orange is a 322-pound nose tackle
He is a projected mid-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft
His nickname 'Big Citrus' originated from a nutritionist
Nose tackles are becoming harder to find in the NFL
Teams prefer versatile defensive linemen

Mentioned in this story

Iowa State

Domonique Orange

Nose tackles are becoming harder to find in the NFL, as teams are increasingly valuing defensive linemen with more down-to-down versatility than traditional gap-cloggers. Nicknames are also going extinct, save for some gems like Tommy "Cutlets" DeVito.

Well, Iowa State's Domonique Orange is a refreshing return to both trends. The 322-pound nose tackle is a projected mid-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, plus he has quite an epic nickname: "Big Citrus."

The nickname originated on social media, and a nutritionist is responsible for putting it on Orange's radar.

"One day, I had a meeting with my nutritionist, and she called me 'Big Citrus,'" Orange told the Des Moines Register last August. "I was like, 'Where you get that from?' She said she saw it on social media, so from that point on, for whatever reason, 'Big Citrus' has been a thing. At first, I didn't like it, but now I'm rolling with it. I like 'Big Citrus.'"

While his stats don't jump off the page, which is normal for a nose tackle, Orange made a big impact for the Cyclones. His best season came in 2024, when he tallied 24 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack. He proceeded to earn third-team All-Big 12 honors in 2025.

"Big Citrus" will learn where he'll call his NFL home this weekend.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Domonique 'Big Citrus' Orange's nickname, explained

Q&A

What does the nickname 'Big Citrus' refer to in relation to Domonique Orange?

The nickname 'Big Citrus' was given to Domonique Orange by his nutritionist, who found it on social media.

Why are nose tackles like Domonique Orange becoming rare in the NFL?

Nose tackles are becoming rare as NFL teams prefer defensive linemen with more versatility rather than traditional gap-cloggers.

When is Domonique Orange eligible for the NFL Draft?

Domonique Orange is projected to be eligible for the NFL Draft in 2026.