Interview: 3-Star 2019 Talent Cole Aubrey Talks Playing End and Outside Linebacker for St. John Bosco

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

There was a terror coming off the blindside in the Trinity League last season, that nightmare for quarterbacks was Cole Aubrey. The Class of 2019 defensive end put up heavy numbers on a stacked St. John Bosco team racking up a revised stat line of 72 tackles, 29 tackles for a loss, 15 sacks, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. Good news for the Braves, Aubrey is back for his senior year playing both end and outside linebacker. Bad news for California opposing offenses, Aubrey is back.

Despite his three-star ranking and 14 scholarship offers, Aubrey is one of those overlooked players. His productivity on one of the nation’s best high school football teams that plays in one of the nation’s best high school football conferences, the Trinity League, should lead to a mound of Division-I offers. With one year left to prove his doubters wrong, Aubrey (6-2, 225) has been working hard in the weight room and is adding versatility to his game as an outside linebacker. No longer just a weak-side end with a specialty in getting to the quarterback, Aubrey can now cover and fulfill the duties of an outside backer.

In a Recruiting News Guru catch-up interview, I sat down with Aubrey covering his spring and summer practices, transition to outside linebacker, and received an update on his recruiting process.

*Click link for March 17, 2018, RNG interview with Cole Aubrey

Interview

Cole, how have your spring and summer workouts gone?

“They are going really well. I have been training a lot to get stronger and faster. I have been working out with Coach Jimmy; we’ve been working on my speed and agility helping me at linebacker. I have been working that a lot more over the past couple of months. Coach Chris, from Giant Skillz, is helping me with my pass rush this offseason.”

What has been the focus of your workouts from a technical point of view?

“I have been working specifically on trying to maintain my pass rush skills and my moves. I have had a bigger emphasis at linebacker lately. I have done some 7v7 working on my lateral movement, speed, and how to cover guys.”

How has that transition from a hand into the ground to standing up gone?

“That has gone well.”

Have you maxed out in the weight room lately?

“Yes. My bench is around 315, but I have not gone heavy on the other lifts for a while.”

How have spring and summer practices with the Braves gone?

“They have gone really well. I have been impressed. We have a lot of returning guys, we only lost a couple of seniors. Most of the core of last year’s team is back. DJ Uiagalelei (quarterback) is looking awesome. The defense will be great this year.”

Did any college programs come by Bosco to meet with you in-person or to watch you practice this offseason?

“There has been a lot. It seems like every other school has been in contact with me. All the schools that have offered me came by Bosco this offseason.”

What are college coaches telling you they like about your game?

“They always say they see on film how hard I work and they like my motor. They say I have good quickness and use my hands well. Overall, they say I am good at creating havoc in the backfield.”

Is there an area of your game you feel gets overlooked?

“Maybe my strength. I think this year I will show that I am a lot stronger. If there is anything that might get overlooked, it might be my overall strength. I think I will surprise a lot of people this year.”

Which schools are showing interest but have not offered?

“The main one right now showing the most interest but has not offered is Rice. Coach (Cedric) Calhoun, their defensive line coach, he really likes my game. They want to see more film of me during my senior year.”

How many offers do you have now?

“I have 14 offers.”

Aubrey’s offer sheet:  Arkansas State, Boston College, Army, Yale, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Montana State, Princeton, Yale, Brown, Harvard, and San Jose State

Of the schools that have offered, which are showing the most interest?

“The schools I hear from the most from are Princeton, Army-West Point, Air Force, and Yale. I have a very good relationship with Coach (Bob) Surace, the head coach at Princeton. We talk on a weekly basis. At West Point, Coach (Sean) Saturino, their tight ends coach, and I have a really good relationship as well.”

Have you taken any recent visits?

“Yes. In the last month or so, I’ve been to Air force, Montana State, and Yale.”

How did the Yale visit go?

“It went really well. It was cool to meet with their coaches. I also spent some time with the players. I got a good feel for how it would be there. I got to see the reality of life and football at Yale.”

Do you have any planned visits upcoming?

“No. I am just focusing on the season now.”

As you approach your senior year, what are the factors that will ultimately help you decide the ideal next level fit?

“The main things are a strong combination of academics and football. I want to feel wanted by the coaches. I want to get the sense that I am wanted there by the coaches.”

Have you started thinking of a commitment date?

“I have no date set, but hopefully I will make a decision sooner than later. I have a lot of information to go over with the different schools before making a decision.”

What goals have you set for your senior year?

“Our team goal is to win a national championship, nothing less. We were a real young team last year, we are returning most of our players this year and we are hungry. My personal goal is to break the Bosco single season sack record. I had 15 sacks last year and missed the record by 1. I’m also coming into the season with 25 trinity league varsity sacks and want to end my career with no less than 41 sacks.”

Last question. Before the season starts, are you doing anything fun as a break from football and working out?

(Laughs) “My family might go on a vacation, I am hoping for that. It would be great to get some down time before the season starts.”

Cole, as always, it is great catching up with you. I hope you get that downtime and good luck with the rest of your summer workouts.

“Thank you.”

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Photo credit: Aubrey family; in-home visit with Army