Interview: 3-Star 2022 California DT/OL Bobby Piland Updates Recruiting and Workouts
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
The mood for a football team is set in the trenches, and that mood at Rocklin High School is a nasty one thanks to Class of 2022 two-way starter Bobby Piland. Piland roughed up Division II California offenses for 45 tackles with 29 tackles for a loss, four sacks, seven quarterback hurries and a forced fumble in 2019 playing tackle. Playing guard, the 6-1.5, 287-pounder, earned All-State honors. Another big season is around the corner for Piland with teams throughout the Pac-12 and Mountain West watching.
In an RNG update interview, Piland sat down for an in-depth one-on-one covering his preparations for his junior run and the thrill of landing his first offer coming from Northern Arizona.
*Click link for July 2019 RNG interview with Bobby Piland
Interview
Bobby, we last spoke late in the summer covering all that you had been working on over the offseason to that point in preparation for the 2020 season. Let’s update everyone, which positions might you play once the 2020 campaign gets going?
Right now, I am playing 3-tech but one of our guys is out with a torn ACL, so I am lining up at defensive end. If they need me to play 3-tech they will have me in there in certain schemes. I am the starting strongside defensive end. On offense, I am starting at left guard still, but I can play center if they need me.
Going into the weight room right away with you. What are some of the lifts and workouts you’ve been doing to add more power to your skills?
A lot of squats, bench, deadlifts – all the main big power movements along with some other techniques. I have been doing squats and pop squats where you go down four seconds, stop, and then explode up. I have been working on certain body movements and quick twitch muscles. My workouts have included a lot of bench and pushing movements to push off defensive or offensive linemen. My legs, back, and arms – all of it. A lot of explosive movements in the weight room.
Have you maxed out lately?
Not recently, we’ve not been in the weight room lately because of COVID. The last time I squatted, I squatted 550.
Nice. What have you been doing to add that burst and footspeed off the snap?
Doing plyometrics. I have been laying on the ground, exploding up quickly, and seeing how quickly I can recover. I have focused on my get offs and staying low. The squats have helped develop that power and burst. The plyometrics have helped a lot too. I am doing box jumps and bounding – stuff that focuses on the quick twitch muscles. Stretching has helped and letting those muscles recover.
What offensive scheme are the Thunder rolling with this season?
We usually run a Spread balanced between the run and the pass. This season we might be more aggressive with our offense this season taking more chances. We are still doing the no huddle offense, which we were doing last year. That worked out well last year. That was a step to being more aggressive and sophisticated using hand signals taking our offense to the next level.
How have you work to craft your skills on the offensive line?
On the offensive line, I have been working on making sure all my steps are good, quick and taking my 45-degree angles. I have focused on all the little stuff doing everything quick and perfect. I am being recruited for the defensive line, but I stay sharp on the offensive line taking pride in all that I do.
This offseason I have been doing my sets and making sure I am in the classroom for football knowledge staying on top of technique and skills that will help take my game to the next level. I have been adding tools to my toolbox.
And what about on the defensive line?
I have been working on firing off, getting into the defensive lineman’s face and putting him into the backfield. My change of direction has been a big one; planting and going quickly getting into the backfield to disrupt the offense. I have worked on reading my blocks, knowing what is going on. I have improved tremendously on shedding and sealing blocks, seeing big improvement there. My get off and shedding blocks along with play recognition have really gone up since last season.
What scheme are you guys executing on defense?
We usually run a base 4-man front, running a 4-1. It works for us. We only have one backer in the box and four defensive linemen. Our coaches teach us the skills that work for our scheme. It helps us, it is unique. Our coach has done really well coaching that scheme. We run a 4-2 or 3-4 if needed, and we do stunts like any defense will have.
Have you been attending any camps or playing club ball to help stay sharp this offseason?
There have not been a lot of camps, and there are no one on ones at the camps. With club football, today I am going to a club team in Davis, about 30 minutes away. Hopefully we get in some games. We are supposed to get a couple games. The only camp I went to was the National Preps camp back in November.
Let’s talk football Which schools are showing interest ahead of the season?
Lately it has been Colorado, Army, Cal, UNLV, UCLA, Fresno State, NAU, they offered, and I am still talking to them of course. New Mexico is showing a little bit of interest.
Receiving that Northern Arizona offer, silly question, but what was that moment like for you?
It was amazing. They set up a Zoom call, I didn’t know what the meeting was about. I thought they were calling to tell me more about NAU because I didn’t know much about Flagstaff. During the meeting, they said what it is like there, talked about the football program, and then said we’d like to offer you a full offer. I was beyond excited. I didn’t know what to expect going into the meeting; it was amazing.
When visits get going again in the coming months, are there any schools you might go see?
I want to visit Fresno State, UCLA again, UNLV, and most of the schools showing interest. NAU is the big one. I hear Flagstaff is a nice place. NAU is a good school. Cal is another school I want to visit. I like Cal, I have been there before. It is tucked away. I have never seen anything like that. Fresno State is another. I was supposed to visit there before the virus but never got to.
Bobby, it was great getting some time in with you today. Wishing you success with the club team and your workouts ahead of the season.
Thank you, sir.
Photo credit: Piland family; Bobby Piland