The El Rancho High School football team was treated to quite a surprise this past Thursday March 13, as they were paid a visit by USC football player and NFL draft prospect Mason Cobb. A standout senior linebacker at USC, Cobb spent two years at Oklahoma State, where he was awarded Second-team all Big 12 conference honors, before transferring out west and joining the Trojans in 2023 to finish out his last two years of eligibility. In his last two years with USC Cobb amassed a total of 157 combined tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 2 interceptions, even housing one for a touchdown.
A Utah native, Cobb acknowledges his lack of ties to El Rancho, however recognizes he can still make a positive impact in the boys’ lives. “Weight room,” he stressed. Emphasizing that the players are not competing with their teammates but with others across the nation who are working hard everyday to become better. The playbook was another tool Cobb preached. He described the time he was a scout-team player for six weeks however despite this kept up studying the playbook assuring himself he’d be ready when his time came and sure enough it did.
But above all Cobb preached the importance of education; “Football, working out, yeah it’s amazing but school, nobody can take that from you,” he emphasized. Cobb explained further what was expected of student-athletes at the collegiate level. Never missing a class, sitting in the front, turning in assignments on time all non-negotiable under USC football head coach Lincoln Riley. He also hammered home the importance of prioritizing education first and foremost.
Of course the students had no shortage of questions for Cobb, ranging from football and confidence tips, to injury rehab and how to stay sharp mentally. Cobb answered as many questions as he could, recognizing that an opportunity like this is not all too common for these kids, “I think back when I was in high school, I wish I had somebody that came and talked to us about these kinds of things and be a mentor to me.”
Cobb ended by giving out USC football accessories and gathered outside for a group picture with the team, in which he also took the time to take an individual picture with every single student and coach. Discussing the impact of positive role models for the boys, board of trustee member Yarisma Rocha said, “I think it’s very important for our students to see what they could become.”
