ORCHARD PARK — John DiGiorgio’s story is one that any Buffalo Bills fan can get behind.

Before coming to Buffalo, he played at Saginaw Valley State — not exactly the Florida Gators when it comes to college football. He signed as an undrafted free agent in May 2006, the kind of player who usually offers an extra body for training camp. But DiGiorgio would prove to be more than just a camp extra. Later that year, he became the only undrafted free agent to make the Bills’ 53-man roster.

After London Fletcher’s departure in the offseason, DiGiorgio found himself atop the depth chart at middle linebacker. The team insisted DiGiorgio would be given every chance to earn the starting spot, but anyone who followed the team knew that rookie Paul Posluszny would be the starter coming out of camp, based not only on performance, but Posluszny’s draft spot (second round) and pedigree. Posluszny was, after all, one of the best linebackers to ever come out of Penn State, a school famous for producing stars at that position.

But a broken forearm in Week 3 against the New England Patriots ended Posluszny’s season, forcing DiGiorgio into action. On Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, he came through. The 6-foot-2, 229-pounder finished with five tackles, a half-sack and a fumble recovery in his team’s 19-14 win.

DiGiorgio was more interested in talking about the team’s performance after the game as opposed to himself.

“We went out there and did well and executed,” he said. “We gave up a couple of big runs, but they (Baltimore) got us in something we didn’t want to be in. We made an adjustment at halftime and I thought we executed it well.”

Sunday’s fumble recovery marked the second straight game DiGiorgio has recorded a turnover. He also had an interception against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football.

“The fumble recovery caused by Angelo (Crowell) and then picked up (by DiGiorgio) is … any time you get a turnover, but in the plus territory, which puts points on the board, is really big,” coach Dick Jauron said Monday.

DiGiorgio is just one member of a defense playing with players not expected to even see the field when the season began. Cornerback Jabari Greer and safety George Wilson are two others.

“We like those guys or they wouldn’t be here,” Jauron said. “They really big-effort guys. … They have done a terrific job. They play awfully hard, really hard, every week.”

Contact reporter Jay Skurski at 693-1000, ext. 117.