Mario Luna Recognized by Greg Biggins Among Rivals/On3 Eye-Catchers in Orange Lutheran vs. Sierra Canyon

I've Been Hoping Greg Biggins Would See Me Play 😂

Here's the crazy part. I've actually been hoping and praying for a while that Greg would eventually see me play. If you play high school football in Southern California and start paying attention to recruiting, you hear the name Greg Biggins. I've heard so much about him and about all the players he has evaluated over the years.

I remember thinking, "Man, hopefully one day Greg Biggins sees me play." I wasn't thinking about getting mentioned in an article or getting some big post. Honestly, I would've been happy just meeting him and getting a "Hi, Torta." 😂

That's it. So when I realized he had watched our game and then saw my name among the players he recognized, it was definitely one of those moments where I thought, "Wait... that's actually me." 😂

Greg Biggins' Rivals/On3 Eye-Catchers From Orange Lutheran vs. Sierra Canyon

I want to make something clear because I think this actually makes the recognition even cooler: this wasn't an article just about me. Greg was watching a loaded Sierra Canyon vs. Orange Lutheran football game and highlighted several players who caught his attention.

There were established recruits, players with college offers, older guys and younger players trying to make names for themselves. I'm a sophomore, Class of 2029. Being one of the players who caught his attention in a game with that much talent is what made this really special to me.

You can read Greg's complete story here: Greg Biggins' Rivals/On3 eye-catchers from Orange Lutheran vs. Sierra Canyon .

Greg Biggins Shares His Eye-Catchers on X

Greg also shared his Rivals/On3 story on X after the game. Seeing his post was already cool, but then realizing I was actually one of the players included made it hit a little different.

You can also follow Greg Biggins on X for more of his recruiting coverage.

What Greg Biggins Said About Mario Luna

Then I got to the part where Greg talked about my game, and one line obviously jumped out at me:

"Mario Luna looks like he could be the next big-time player from this group."

Yeah... I read that more than once. 😂 I probably read it enough times that I almost memorized the paragraph.

But if you're Mexican-American, you already know your family isn't going to let you walk around the house thinking you're famous. You can be feeling pretty good about yourself and five minutes later it's: "Qué bueno, mijo. Now take out the trash." 😂

Back to reality.

What Greg Noticed About My Offensive Line Play

The quote was awesome, but something else actually meant just as much to me: he noticed things I've been working on.

Greg talked about my strength and physicality, but he also noticed my lateral movement and what I'm showing while playing right tackle. He talked about being able to handle speed and power and mentioned my tackle feet and lateral mobility.

That part made me smile because those things didn't just show up that Friday. Those are things we've been working on.

Watch Mario Luna vs. Sierra Canyon

If you want to see the actual reps from the game Greg watched, here's my film from Orange Lutheran vs. Sierra Canyon.

This is the type of film I want people to evaluate: real varsity reps against high-level competition. I'm playing right tackle and continuing to work on my feet, hands, leverage, run blocking, pass protection and being able to recover when a rep doesn't go exactly how I planned.

You can watch more of my varsity film, highlights and development on the Mario Luna Football YouTube channel .

Coach Chris Ward Has Been a Big Part of My Development

I have to give a lot of credit to my offensive line coach at Orange Lutheran, Coach Chris Ward . Coach Ward has really pushed me.

Last year, as a freshman, I played varsity at left guard. I've worked at center too, and now as a sophomore I'm getting the opportunity to play right tackle.

Tackle is different. You're out there with more space against some really athletic dudes. One guy wants to run around you. The next guy wants to go straight through you. Then somebody shows speed, gets you moving and comes back inside. Basically everybody has a different plan to ruin your Friday night. 😂

Coach Ward has been on me about the details: feet, hands, leverage, balance, pass sets, recovery, re-fitting and finishing. Sometimes you think you had a pretty good rep until Coach Ward rewinds the film.

"Again." Rewind. "Look at your feet." There goes my good mood. 😂

But that's coaching, and honestly, that's what I need. That's why when Greg watched me without knowing everything Coach Ward and I have been working on and pointed out some of those exact things, it meant something. It tells me some of the work is starting to show on Friday nights.

Why Being Recognized by Greg Biggins Is Such a Big Deal to Me

Some people probably won't understand why something like this means so much. They might see my name in a Rivals/On3 story and think, "Cool. Somebody mentioned you."

But for me, it's not really about seeing my name on a website. It's everything behind that name.

It's the long days. It's the hours spent working on my craft when nobody is watching. The workouts, the practices, the film, the mistakes, the tears and the sweat.

It's going to school, handling my grades, practicing, working on football and knowing the next morning we're waking up and doing it all over again. There are days when my body hurts. There are days when I'm frustrated with myself because I know I could've done something better.

There are sacrifices that don't show up in a highlight video. That's why this meant something.

Being Away From My Friends, Family, Cali and Fletch

One of the hardest parts about chasing this football dream has been being far away from people I love back home. I miss my friends. I miss my family. I miss home.

And I'm definitely going to say this because they don't get enough credit: I miss my dogs, Cali and Fletch. A LOT. 😂🐶

They probably don't know anything about Rivals. They don't care if I'm playing guard, center or tackle. I'm pretty sure their scouting report on me is: "Big dude. Gives us food. Approved." 😂

That's real loyalty.

But seriously, being away isn't always easy. I'm Mexican-American, and I'm proud of both sides of my life. I'm grateful for the opportunities I have here in the United States, but that doesn't mean I stop missing where I came from. I still miss my people, my friends and my family back home.

And obviously I miss the food. Come on. My name is Torta Power. Of course I miss the food. 😂🇲🇽

Football asks you to sacrifice things sometimes. I know why I'm doing it, but that doesn't mean it's always easy.

Guard, Center or Right Tackle — Just Put Me Somewhere

One thing I've started to really enjoy is learning different positions across the offensive line. I don't want to be the guy who says, "I only play this position." I'm an offensive lineman.

Guard? Let's go. Center? Let's go. Right tackle? Let's go.

Just don't tell me I'm playing running back. Actually... give me the ball once. Torta Power package. 🌮😂 Coach, if you're reading this, I'm just saying.

Playing different positions has helped me understand offensive line play better. Inside, everything happens fast. You're dealing with big defensive linemen right in your face, and leverage and power matter immediately.

At tackle, you have more room. Unfortunately, so does the defender. Playing outside has forced me to work on my feet and become more comfortable in space. Every speed rusher teaches me something. Every bull rush tests my anchor. Every counter makes me recover.

Sometimes the reps that don't go perfectly are the ones I learn the most from.

Why I Want to Play Competition Like Sierra Canyon

Obviously, I wish the score would've been different. We lost 28-10, and nobody in our locker room was happy about that. Individual recognition doesn't change the scoreboard.

But Sierra Canyon is also the type of competition I came to Orange Lutheran to play. I don't want easy film.

When somebody watches my highlights, I want them to be able to look up the player across from me and say, "Okay, that dude can play too."

I want reps against speed. I want reps against power. I want uncomfortable reps. I want to find out what happens when I'm tired and there's another good football player standing across from me. That's how I find out what I need to improve.

And playing at Orange Lutheran means the competition doesn't exactly get easier when Trinity League football starts.

Good. That's what I signed up for.

People See Friday Night — They Don't Always See Everything Behind It

People see Friday night. They see the Orange Lutheran uniform. They see #78. They see the highlights. Maybe they see a pancake and everybody gets excited.

And being Torta Power, I guess a pancake is basically a breakfast torta anyway. 😂

But people don't always see everything that happens before Friday night. They don't see every workout, every practice, every film session, every long day or every sacrifice my family makes.

They don't see the days I'm tired. They don't see the times I'm frustrated. They don't see me missing home.

That's why being recognized by somebody who has evaluated so many football players over the years feels different. For a second, it feels like somebody noticed a little piece of all those hours.

That's the big deal to me.

From Hoping Greg Biggins Would See Me to Actually Being Seen

That's probably what I'll remember most about this. I've literally been hoping and praying just to get noticed by Greg one day. Maybe he would see a clip online. Maybe he'd be at one of our games. Maybe someday I'd get to introduce myself.

Again... I would've taken the "Hi." 😂

Instead, he watched a game with a lot of talented football players and I ended up being one of the players who caught his attention. Then I got to read:

"Mario Luna looks like he could be the next big-time player from this group."

Of course that made me smile. I'm human. 😂 But I also know what that really means: potential. It's not a finish line.

Now it's on me. I want the Mario Greg sees next year to be better than the Mario he saw against Sierra Canyon. Then I want the Mario after that to be even better.

I'm Still a Sophomore — Class of 2029

Sometimes recruiting makes everything feel like it's moving really fast. Then I remember: Bro... you're a sophomore. 😂

I'm Mario Luna, a Class of 2029 offensive lineman at Orange Lutheran High School. There's a lot of football left. A lot of practices, games, film and lifting. A lot more defensive linemen trying to run through me.

And definitely a lot more Coach Ward saying: "Mario... your feet." 😂

I'm thankful for this moment. Thank you, Greg Biggins, for watching our game and including me among the players who caught your attention. Thank you, Coach Ward, for staying on me and helping me become a better offensive lineman. Thank you to my coaches, teammates and especially my family for all the sacrifices they make too.

To my friends and family back home, I miss you guys. Cali and Fletch... your boy is working. 🐶❤️

This doesn't mean I've made it. Not even close.

But when you've spent so many hours working toward something, sacrificed time with people you love, cried over it, sweated for it and prayed that somebody would eventually see what you're capable of... and then one day somebody does...

Yeah, it means a little more.

Now it's back to work.

And Greg... thank you.

But seriously, I'm still waiting for my "Hi." 😂

Mario Luna "Torta Power"
Orange Lutheran Football
Class of 2029 | Offensive Line
RT / G / C | #78

Puro Torta Power. 🌮🏈🇲🇽🇺🇸

Follow Mario Luna "Torta Power" Football

Follow my football journey, varsity film, game highlights, camps and development at MarioLunaFootball.com . You can also watch more of my football film on the Mario Luna Football YouTube channel .

For the original recruiting coverage, read Greg Biggins' Rivals/On3 eye-catchers from the Sierra Canyon vs. Orange Lutheran game and see Greg Biggins' original X post .