SLO County athletes announce college plans. One graduated early to play UCLA football
Thomas Cole was one of the best high school football players in California, dominating his offensive line position last year out of San Luis Obispo High School.
But instead of wrapping up his senior year of high school, Cole now is holding down a daily routine of all-online classes at UCLA after he graduated early to prepare for his college athletic career.
Cole, a 6-foot-7, 280-pound lineman who also played varsity basketball for the Tigers, is one of a group of local players who have committed to college football program offers early this year, though the others haven’t moved on yet.
Cole, who has a full-ride scholarship with the Bruins, left high school early to prepare for college sports, citing a “50-50 chance of (the high school season) happening” due to the pandemic impacts when he left for the Westwood campus in early January.
Now, the SLO County high school football season is likely to be canceled due to COVID-19 health precautions, though a limited season may start by March 26 if SLO County is at least in the orange tier of public health restrictions (currently, the county is in the more restricted purple tier).
“I did a year’s worth of high school (through an accelerated online program) in 16 weeks,” Cole said. “You can go at your own pace, so I just kind of doubled up.”
Cole joins a group of SLO County football players who have committed to college programs, including Mission Prep’s Carlton Brown III, who will attend University of Nevada; Royals teammate Assani Berkeley, who will attend San Jose State; and Christian Jones of SLO High, who will play at San Diego State.
They are among athletes from around the county who have made their college choices during the early signing period, including Paso Robles High School’s Isabella Druding, who will join the William Jessup University cheer and competitive stunt program; Kendall Moffit, who will swim for Cal Lutheran University; and Madeline Loff, who signed with the Chico State cross country program.
SLO football player embarks on UCLA career
Cole was a top-40 prospect in California by 247Sports (32nd) and ESPN (40th), according to the UCLA bio guide. Cole was named to Cal-Hi Sports All-State (Juniors) first team in 2019. He received 22 scholarship offers from college programs.
Normally in the middle of his basketball season, Cole was able to use more free time to lift weights and get stronger against Pac-12 competition.
“I’ve put on 60 pounds during quarantine,” Cole said. “Just being able to do that, I think has helped a lot of guys (prepare for college sports).”
Cole said that he’s mostly isolated from other students to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and the pod of athletes he conditions with at UCLA are in groups of about 10 or 12.
“We stagger our workouts, and I go in at 7:25 a.m. every day,” Cole said. “It’s a lot of hip and body weight workouts and unlike anything I’ve ever done. In the spring, we’ll get going on playbook and more skill-based practices.”
Cole said self-motivation has been a key for all high school and college athletes during the pandemic.
“Either you put the work in, or you fall behind,” Cole said. “I find it’s harder (at UCLA) to fall behind than to push ahead because these guys want it. The environment makes you want to work hard and do really well.”
Experience at SLO High
Cole said his experience as a two-sport athlete helped him gain quickness with athleticism and footwork.
“If you’re a high school athlete, and you’ve been playing the same sport for 10 years, it’s easy to get burnt out,” Cole said. “I think basketball really has helped me with athleticism and footwork in football, and football helped with physicality in basketball.”
Cole, who also had played tight end and defensive line at SLO High, said that his high school experience was memorable and his coaches, including head coach Pat Johnston, former Fresno State and New York Giant tight end Bear Pascoe, and offensive line coach Vic Ecklund, helped him significantly improve.
“I had a fantastic experience at SLO High,” Cole said. “I love coach Johnston. ... I had great teammates. We had a great time playing multiple sports together.”
Cole said the latest class of SLO County football players has been an accomplished group, including 2020 grads Carson Leedom, who’s now a freshman playing at Cal Poly, and Emilio Corona, a University of Washington baseball player.
And 2020 Mission Prep graduate Brian Kowall has walked on to the UCLA football team and lives down the hallway in Cole’s dorm.
“I know a lot of younger guys that are really grinding now because of the great classes we had this year and last year,” Cole said. “They want a taste of that success.”
This story was originally published February 9, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
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