Dante Hall, one of the most electric players the NFL has ever seen, once said, “Defensive and offensive lineman control the game and true sports fans know that.”
Rocklin High's Bobby Piland is well acquainted with that opinion and has been a two-way starter since his freshman year. The Thunder junior has had stellar production at defensive tackle and earned all-state honors as a guard.
“As a d-lineman you have to be a crazy kid,” said Piland. “As an o-lineman, you've got to be disciplined and need to be constantly communicating with your fellow linemen and your quarterback.”
Piland brought both discipline and controlled craziness to the National Preps Collegiate Showcase at Vacaville Christian High School on November 21, securing the co-2022 Lineman MVP.
“It felt good being recognized at the National Preps camp,” Piland explained. “I’m highly competitive in everything I do so I really wanted to do 1 on 1s-- that way there’s no question on who the MVP is.”
Along with a two-time Sacramento Bee all-Metro selection, Piland has received offers from Northern Arizona and South Dakota, while also garnering interest from multiple D1 schools.
National Preps Western Region Scout Paul Gregorian describes Piland as an “explosive player who is a technician in the trenches. (He) doesn’t have great length but makes up for it with hand usage, overall strength, pad level, and motor.”
Seemingly even more than other athletes across the state, Piland has kept himself extremely busy and has found unique ways to advance his game.
“I’m always working, training, doing something,” Piland said. “I strength train five days per week, do speed training 4-5 days per week and do football-specific training at least three days a week.
"My dad’s buddy got us some tractor tires anywhere from 500-730 pounds. Every day I do a lot of plyo and have been working on my change of direction and get-offs. I feel stronger and faster than I ever have.”
A player does not put in so much work absent a love and dedication to all aspects of the game. Piland embraces the grind and has fully committed to being the best version of himself possible.
“Football means everything to me,” explained Piland. “From the training to the conditioning and all the preparation to step on the field and go to battle. It’s the greatest sport in the world, I truly don’t know where I’d be without football.”
Piland is an individual who is obsessed with being the best, and that is not just pertaining to his performance when he straps on the helmet, as evidenced by his performance in the classroom where he maintains a 3.75 GPA.
“My goal is always to be the best at anything I do,” said Piland. "My father has taught me that since I was little and that’s what I strive to do. I love school and I love learning new things in order to challenge myself.”
“One thing's for sure,” Piland said. “Nobody on the field is tougher than the linemen. There’s not a tighter knit group than offensive linemen, and there’s not a crazier group than the defensive linemen.”
