Before playing his first high school football game, Mario Luna “Torta Power,” a Class of 2029 offensive lineman whose football journey began in Baja California, Mexico, received his first early Division I football offer from Sacramento State.
At the time, Mario was still an eighth grader, listed around 6'2" and 260 pounds, coming off a season with the OG Ducks Dreamchasers 14U and continuing to develop as an offensive lineman.
For Mario and his family, the Sacramento State opportunity meant more than adding a college name to a recruiting profile. It showed that a football journey that started in Mexico could create opportunities in American college football.
It also created a question we continue hearing from families in Mexico:
Can a football player from Mexico get recruited and eventually play college football in the United States?
Yes. But players and families need to understand both sides of the process: getting recruited and becoming academically and athletically eligible to compete.
Class of 2029
8th Grade
Offensive Line / Defensive Line
Approximately 6'2", 260 lbs
Football roots in Baja California, Mexico
OG Ducks Dreamchasers 14U
First Early Division I Offer: Sacramento State
Sacramento State Becomes Mario Luna’s First Division I Football Offer
Every recruiting journey has a first opportunity.
For Mario, that first Division I opportunity came from Sacramento State.
It happened before Mario entered high school and before he had varsity high school film.
That made the moment special, but it also created a new responsibility.
An early offer did not mean the work was finished.
It meant the next stage was beginning.
Mario still needed to enter high school, develop his offensive line technique, continue improving physically, handle academics and eventually produce varsity film against high school competition.
From Football in Mexico to a Division I Opportunity
One reason the Sacramento State offer meant so much was where Mario's football journey started.
His roots are in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.
Before college coaches knew the name Torta Power, there were practices, games and football experiences in Mexico.
Mario developed through programs in Baja California and later began traveling and competing more frequently in the United States.
That created a different path from the traditional American recruiting story.
Mario had to find competition, camps and training opportunities while continuing to represent the place where his football journey began.
Playing With the OG Ducks Dreamchasers 14U
One important stage of Mario's development came with the OG Ducks Dreamchasers 14U.
Playing against strong youth competition gave Mario opportunities to develop his technique and compete against different types of defensive linemen.
For an offensive lineman, those reps matter.
Size can get somebody's attention, but coaches eventually want to see movement, balance, footwork, leverage, hand placement and how a player competes when somebody across from him can match his strength.
Mario's youth football experiences became part of the foundation he would later take into high school football.
Offseason Development With Team Next Level
After the 2024 season, Mario continued working during the offseason with Team Next Level in 5-on-5 offensive line competition.
The purpose was development.
Offensive line 5-on-5 work gave Mario additional opportunities to focus on stance, footwork, hands, leverage, pass protection and competing in space.
Those offseason reps were important because the next challenge was going to be much bigger:
high school varsity football.
What My First Division I Offer Meant to Me
Football has given me opportunities I never imagined when I first started playing.
Receiving my first Division I opportunity from Sacramento State was something I was extremely grateful for, especially knowing how my journey started.
But I also understood that an offer in eighth grade did not mean I had made it.
I still had high school ahead of me.
I had to keep working, keep developing and eventually show what I could do against varsity competition.
I hope kids playing football in Mexico see that there can be opportunities beyond where you start.
Puro Torta Power. 🇲🇽🏈
Can Football Players From Mexico Play College Football in the United States?
Yes.
A football player does not have to grow up in the United States to eventually compete in American college football.
International student athletes can compete at NCAA schools, including athletes whose secondary education was completed outside the United States.
However, there are two separate challenges families should understand:
1. Getting recruited by a college football program.
2. Meeting the academic and athletics eligibility requirements necessary to actually compete in college.
Those are related, but they are not the same thing.
How Can a Football Player From Mexico Get College Offers in the USA?
There is no guaranteed formula for getting an American college football offer.
But players in Mexico can make themselves much easier for U.S. college coaches to evaluate.
1. Build Real Football Film
A coach in the United States cannot evaluate a player he cannot see.
Players in Mexico should create clear game film showing complete reps rather than only short social media clips.
For offensive linemen, identify the player before the snap with a circle or arrow, then allow the entire play to run.
Coaches need to see stance, first step, hands, leverage, movement, recovery and finish.
2. Put Your Information in English
A recruiting profile should make the important information immediately understandable to an American college coach.
Include:
Full name
Graduation class
Position
Height and weight
School or football program
City and state in Mexico
GPA or academic information when available
Hudl or film link
Contact information
Coach contact information
You can have Spanish content too, but an English recruiting profile removes a barrier for American coaches.
3. Understand Your U.S. Graduation Class
This is extremely important for players coming from Mexico.
American football recruiting is organized heavily around graduation classes.
Coaches constantly search for players using terms such as Class of 2027, Class of 2028, Class of 2029 and so on.
A player from Mexico should clearly understand which U.S. recruiting class corresponds to his expected secondary school graduation and college enrollment timeline.
4. Get Accurate Measurements
Do not exaggerate.
List accurate height and weight.
When possible, also obtain verified athletic measurements such as wingspan, broad jump, vertical jump, short shuttle and forty time.
A coach will eventually verify these numbers.
Credibility matters.
5. Attend College Camps in the United States When Possible
Film can introduce a player.
A camp can allow coaches to evaluate him in person.
This can be especially valuable for players from Mexico because a college coach may not have an opportunity to visit their local games.
For offensive linemen, camps allow coaches to evaluate body type, movement, coachability, footwork and competitive one-on-one reps.
Families should choose camps strategically rather than simply attending as many as possible.
6. Compete Where Coaches Can Evaluate You
Players do not necessarily have to leave Mexico permanently to become recruits.
But competing at camps, combines, international events or other environments where coaches and evaluators can see the player can help create additional exposure.
The goal is not to collect event T-shirts.
The goal is to create legitimate evaluation opportunities.
7. Contact College Football Programs Professionally
A recruiting message should be short.
Tell the coach who you are.
Include your class, position, height, weight, location and film.
Do not send a five-paragraph life story before giving the coach the film link.
A simple introduction can look like this:
Coach, my name is [Name]. I am a Class of 2029 offensive lineman from Baja California, Mexico. I am 6'3", 285 lbs. Here is my varsity film: [link]. Thank you for taking the time to evaluate me.
8. Have Your Current Coach Help
A coach-to-coach introduction can be valuable.
If a Mexican high school or club coach has relationships with coaches in the United States, ask that coach to send film and verified information.
The recommendation should be honest.
Trust is valuable in recruiting.
9. Use Social Media Correctly
Instagram, X, TikTok and YouTube can help a player become discoverable, but social media should support the recruiting process rather than replace football film.
Keep the player's name, graduation class, position, school or team, location and film easy to find.
Post training and highlights, but also make sure a coach can quickly locate full football film.
10. Learn English
A player does not need perfect English to become a college football prospect.
But improving English can make communication with coaches, admissions offices, professors and teammates much easier.
Remember that the goal is not only to get recruited.
The player eventually has to attend college classes in the United States too.
11. Start the Academic Process Early
This is where many international families can make mistakes.
Do not wait until a college offers a scholarship to start asking whether the athlete's schoolwork will qualify.
Keep transcripts, school records and proof of graduation organized from the beginning.
If a player attends more than one secondary school, keep records from every school.
NCAA Eligibility for Football Players From Mexico
Getting recruited is only part of the process.
An international athlete also has to become eligible to compete.
The NCAA has specific procedures for international student athletes because education systems and school records differ between countries.
For athletes planning to compete at an NCAA Division I or Division II school, the NCAA says international prospects generally need an Academic and Athletics Certification account with the NCAA Eligibility Center.
The Eligibility Center reviews academic records as well as athletics participation before certification.
Official NCAA International Student Athlete Requirements
Register With the NCAA Eligibility Center
Does a Student From Mexico Need to Send Transcripts to the NCAA?
Yes, academic documentation is an important part of international eligibility.
The NCAA says international student athletes must ensure their secondary schools submit the required academic records and supporting documents to the Eligibility Center.
The Eligibility Center reviews information such as coursework, grades, transcripts and proof of graduation when determining academic eligibility.
That is why a Mexican athlete should not treat academics as something to worry about during senior year.
Start organizing records early.
What If I Attend School in Mexico?
Attending secondary school in Mexico does not automatically prevent an athlete from playing NCAA football.
The NCAA specifically maintains procedures for students educated in international school systems.
The player's academic records will need to be evaluated under the appropriate international standards.
This is also why families should avoid assuming that a Mexican course automatically counts the same way as a U.S. high school course.
Use the NCAA's country-specific international guidance and communicate with the Eligibility Center when questions arise.
What If I Move From Mexico to a U.S. High School?
A player may also attend part of secondary school in Mexico and later continue high school in the United States.
If that happens, keep records from every school attended.
The NCAA registration process asks students to list their U.S. and international secondary-school history.
Do not assume moving to an American high school makes the previous Mexican academic record disappear.
The complete educational history matters.
Do Mexican Football Players Need an NCAA Eligibility Center Account?
For NCAA competition, yes, athletes should understand the appropriate Eligibility Center registration path.
The NCAA currently says students who want to compete at an NCAA school should register with the Eligibility Center.
Division I and II prospects generally use the Academic and Athletics Certification Account.
International students planning to compete in Division III generally need an Athletics Certification Account. Division III does not award athletic scholarships, although other institutional financial aid may be available.
Do You Need to Be a U.S. Citizen to Play College Football?
No. NCAA football is not limited to U.S. citizens.
International student athletes compete at American colleges and universities.
However, being NCAA eligible and being legally authorized to study in the United States are separate issues.
An international student who will study in the United States must also satisfy the applicable university admissions and U.S. immigration requirements.
Once a player is seriously recruited, the university's admissions, international student and athletics compliance offices can help explain the specific process.
Football Scholarship vs Admission vs NCAA Eligibility
This distinction is important for families coming from Mexico.
A football offer does not by itself complete everything required to attend the university.
Think about the process as different pieces:
Recruiting: The football staff wants the player.
NCAA eligibility: The athlete satisfies the applicable academic and athletics requirements to compete.
University admission: The athlete satisfies the school's admission requirements.
Immigration/student status: An international student satisfies the requirements to legally study in the United States.
All of those pieces eventually have to work together.
Can a Player Stay in Mexico and Still Get Recruited?
Yes.
A player does not necessarily have to move to the United States during high school just to be recruited.
But distance creates an additional challenge:
Coaches need reliable ways to evaluate you.
That makes quality game film, accurate measurements, camp opportunities, communication and academic preparation even more important.
If a player has the ability, the goal is to make that ability easy for coaches to discover and verify.
Mario Luna's Path Was One Example, Not the Only Path
Mario's journey should not be interpreted as the only way a player from Mexico can reach American college football.
His path included football in Baja California, competition in the United States, youth football with the OG Ducks, offseason training, camps and eventually high school football in Southern California.
Another athlete may remain in Mexico throughout high school.
Another may attend a U.S. boarding school.
Another may be discovered through camps.
Another may start with a smaller college opportunity.
The route can be different.
The important pieces remain development, film, academics, exposure and eligibility.
What Happened After Sacramento State?
The Sacramento State opportunity became the first chapter of Mario's early recruiting story.
Georgia State later became his second early Division I offer.
Read about Mario Luna's second Division I offer from Georgia State .
Texas State followed as another early Division I opportunity.
Read about Mario Luna's Texas State football offer .
From Mexico to Orange Lutheran Varsity Football
The biggest test still came after the early offers.
Mario eventually continued his football journey at Orange Lutheran High School in Southern California.
Read about Mario Luna's move from his Mexico football journey to Orange Lutheran .
During the 2025 season, Mario began competing at the varsity level as a freshman.
That finally created something early recruiting could not provide:
varsity high school film.
Watch Mario Luna's 2025 freshman varsity film and identified matchups .
From Ensenada to the Los Angeles Times
The story eventually came full circle during Mario's freshman season.
The Los Angeles Times en Español featured his journey from Ensenada to Orange Lutheran and the story behind Torta Power.
Read about Mario Luna's Los Angeles Times feature .
What Is Torta Power?
Torta Power connects Mario's life as an offensive lineman with his Mexican roots.
Offensive linemen call it a pancake when they put a defender on the ground.
For Mario, it is a torta.
That became Torta Power.
Read the story behind Torta Power .
A Message to Football Players in Mexico
If you are playing football in Mexico and dreaming about playing college football in the United States, do not assume you are too far away to have an opportunity.
But also do not wait for somebody to magically discover you.
Develop your football ability.
Record good film.
Know your graduation class.
Keep accurate measurements.
Learn English.
Take school seriously.
Keep every transcript and academic record.
Find legitimate opportunities to compete and attend camps.
Make it easy for coaches to evaluate you.
Understand NCAA eligibility before your senior year.
And most importantly, keep developing after you get attention.
Mario's first Sacramento State opportunity was not proof that the journey was finished.
It was proof that the journey could begin in Mexico and still create opportunities in American college football.
Puro Torta Power. 🇲🇽🏈
Who Is Mario Luna “Torta Power”?
Mario Luna “Torta Power” is a Class of 2029 offensive lineman whose football journey began in Baja California, Mexico. Mario received his first early Division I football opportunity from Sacramento State before entering high school and later continued his development at Orange Lutheran High School.
Follow Mario Luna's Football Journey
Second D1 Offer: Georgia State
From Mexico to Orange Lutheran