San Jose State University football newcomer Gavyn Tobin, from Freedom High in Antioch, Calif., will be watching YouTube on his second night on the Humboldt State University campus in Arcata, Calif. He will be listening for his name to be called as one of the 23 recipients of a 2021 National Football Foundation Northern California chapter scholarship, Friday, July 30, at 7:00 p.m. (PT).
Tobin, a two-way lineman at the high school level, but focusing on offense at the start of his college football career, will receive a $1,000 scholarship grant as the top scholar-athlete lineman representing Contra Costa County.
"This award means a lot. It's always been preached to me that you are a student before you are an athlete. To win an award like this shows I've really made progress, have been paying attention, and following what people have been teaching me," said Tobin, whose transition to college life began just after the Fourth of July.
"…It's (assimilating) been a lot simpler than I thought it would be. Obviously, it's still really different," said Tobin, who plans to major in international business. He was a 2021 first-team All-Bay Valley Athletic League and Bay Area News Group All-Star honorable mention selection.
In all the Northern California chapter awards a scholarship to the top high school back and top lineman in the 12 counties surrounding San Francisco and Oakland, north into the Redwood forest and south into Santa Cruz. To be nominated, a high school football player must have at least a 3.00 cumulative grade-point average, be an important member of a football team, and participate in community service activities.
"Gavyn's doing a great job. He's fitting in with the O-Line group really well. It's pretty cool, because he's got a large enough freshman group and has some people he can lean on," said Josh Oglesby, the Spartans' offensive line coach who has six freshman and a unit group totaling 19. San Jose State has the benefit this year of six returning starters from the 2020 offensive line that paved the way to a Mountain West championship and a 24th ranking in the final Associated Press college football poll.
"He's shown some leadership qualities among the younger group cheering guys on, getting guys to the right spot, holding people accountable. I think he's kind of embraced the role of being an underdog and is really, really excited to show everyone what he can do," Oglesby said.
Tobin becomes the fifth member of the 2021 San Jose State University football team to be named a National Football Foundation high school Scholar-Athlete. He joins fellow Freedom High graduate and first-team All-Mountain West linebacker Kyle Harmon, Outland Trophy watch list candidate and first-team all-conference offensive tackle Jack Snyder, and wide receivers Andre Crump, Jr., and Jamar Simpson.