Before playing his first high school football game, Mario Luna “Torta Power,” a Class of 2029 offensive lineman from Ensenada, Baja California, had already received three early Division I football offers.
The third came from Texas State Football, adding another opportunity to an early recruiting journey that had already included offers from Sacramento State and Georgia State.
At the time, Mario was still an 8th grader, listed around 6'2" and 280 pounds, developing as an offensive lineman and preparing for the transition from youth football into high school football.
Class of 2029
8th Grade
Offensive Line
Approximately 6'2", 280 lbs
Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
Third Early Division I Football Offer
Texas State Becomes Mario Luna’s Third Division I Football Offer
The Texas State opportunity represented another important step in Mario’s early recruiting journey.
It came before he had played a down of high school football.
Mario was still developing through youth football, camps, training and competition when college programs began showing early interest in his potential as an offensive lineman.
Texas State became the third Division I program to extend an early offer, following Sacramento State and Georgia State.
Visit the official Texas State Football website .
Mario Luna’s First Three Division I Football Offers
The Texas State offer did not happen by itself. It became the third chapter in a recruiting story that had started while Mario was still in middle school.
1. Sacramento State
Sacramento State became the first Division I football program to extend an offer to Mario.
Read about Mario Luna’s first Division I offer from Sacramento State .
2. Georgia State
Georgia State followed, becoming Mario’s second early Division I opportunity.
Read about Mario Luna’s Georgia State football offer .
3. Texas State
Texas State became Mario’s third early Division I football offer while he was still an 8th grader.
What Does a Division I Offer in 8th Grade Mean?
An early college football offer does not mean the recruiting process is finished.
For Mario, it meant that college coaches saw enough early potential to begin building a recruiting relationship before he entered high school.
At that age, there was still a tremendous amount of development ahead.
Mario still needed to transition into high school football, continue developing physically, improve his offensive line technique, compete against varsity players and eventually put high school film together.
That made the early offers motivation rather than a finish line.
The goal was to take the potential coaches had seen and continue developing it on the field.
A Class of 2029 Offensive Lineman From Ensenada, Mexico
Another important part of Mario’s recruiting story is where the journey began.
Mario’s roots are in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.
Before high school football, he developed through football programs in Baja California and Southern California, gaining experience against different levels of competition while learning the offensive line.
That journey eventually took him from football in Mexico to opportunities at camps, youth programs and college recruiting events in the United States.
Receiving Division I opportunities before entering high school gave Mario another reason to continue representing where his football story started.
Building an Offensive Lineman Before High School
At approximately 6'2" and 280 pounds during this stage of his development, Mario already had the size to attract attention.
But size alone was never going to be enough.
Offensive line requires footwork, leverage, hand placement, balance, body control, strength, communication and an understanding of defensive fronts.
Mario’s training during this period focused on turning physical size into usable offensive line ability.
Every camp and practice created another opportunity to work on his stance, first steps, pass protection, run blocking and ability to move for his size.
Those were the areas that would become increasingly important once he moved into varsity high school football.
Torta Power Before High School Football
The name Torta Power was already becoming part of Mario’s football identity before he entered high school.
The nickname connects offensive line football with Mario’s Mexican roots.
Offensive linemen call it a pancake when they put a defender on the ground.
For Mario, it is a torta.
That simple idea became Torta Power.
It gave Mario a way to represent being an offensive lineman while also representing Mexican culture and the community where his football story began.
Read the complete story behind Mario Luna and Torta Power .
Using Social Media to Document the Football Journey
Social media also became a way for Mario to document his development.
Instead of only posting finished highlight tapes, Mario’s accounts showed training, camps, football experiences and different stages of his journey.
That allowed coaches, football players, family and supporters in both the United States and Mexico to follow his progress.
The audience continued growing alongside the football journey, but the purpose of the content remained simple: document the work and tell the story.
Instagram @mariolunafootball | TikTok @mariolunafootball | YouTube @mariolunafootball
Early Offers Were Only the Beginning
Receiving three Division I opportunities before entering high school was exciting, but Mario and his family understood that the next stage would be much more important.
High school football would create actual varsity film.
Instead of coaches projecting what Mario might become, they would eventually be able to watch him compete against high school defensive linemen and linebackers.
That meant the work had to continue.
More technique.
More strength.
More movement.
More football knowledge.
More reps.
From Early Division I Offers to Orange Lutheran
The next major chapter in Mario’s journey would be high school football in Southern California.
Mario eventually chose Orange Lutheran High School, where he would enter the Class of 2029 and begin competing in varsity football as a freshman.
Read Mario Luna’s Orange Lutheran High School announcement .
The transition was important because it gave Mario the opportunity to move from youth football projection to varsity high school film.
What Happened Next? Mario Became a Freshman Varsity Starter
Looking back at this Texas State offer now makes the timeline even more meaningful.
At the time of this article, Mario had not played his first high school game.
Then came the 2025 season.
As a freshman at Orange Lutheran, Mario earned varsity starting experience on the offensive line and began putting high school film behind the early recruiting attention.
His freshman film included direct blocking reps against older varsity defenders who later developed into nationally recruited prospects and college commits.
Watch Mario Luna’s 2025 freshman varsity highlights and recruiting matchups .
From Ensenada to the Los Angeles Times
The journey also continued beyond the field.
During Mario’s freshman season, the Los Angeles Times en Español featured his story and the path that took him from Ensenada to Orange Lutheran.
The feature brought together many of the same pieces that were already developing when Mario received the Texas State offer: Mexico, family, offensive line football, Torta Power and the goal of competing at the next level.
Read about Mario Luna’s Los Angeles Times feature during his freshman season .
Student Athlete Development at Orange Lutheran
Mario’s first high school season also became about more than football.
During his freshman year, he earned Trinity League Scholar Athlete recognition and received Orange Lutheran’s Core Value Award for LOVE.
Those recognitions added another dimension to the recruiting story that began with these early offers.
College football recruiting may start with size, athletic ability and film, but Mario wants his high school career to show academics, character and development as well.
Read about Mario Luna’s freshman academic and character awards .
Why This Texas State Offer Is Still Part of the Story
Years of development happen between middle school and college football.
That is why Mario’s early recruiting articles remain part of the website.
They document the timeline.
When Texas State offered Mario, he was an 8th grader with no high school varsity film yet.
He had size, youth football experience, camp exposure and potential.
The next challenge was proving that he could continue developing when high school football began.
That is what makes it useful to keep both stages available.
Coaches and readers can see where the recruiting journey started and then follow the progression into actual varsity football.
The Goal Has Not Changed
Three early Division I offers were something to be grateful for.
They were never supposed to be the final accomplishment.
Every new level creates another standard.
You have to keep developing your body.
You have to keep improving your technique.
You have to compete.
You have to handle school.
You have to put better football on film.
And you have to keep earning whatever comes next.
Texas State became an important part of Mario’s early recruiting story.
The work continued from there.
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. Before entering high school, Mario received early Division I football opportunities from Sacramento State, Georgia State and Texas State.
He later enrolled at Orange Lutheran High School and began competing at the varsity level during his freshman season.
Mario Luna Football Recruiting Journey
First D1 Offer: Sacramento State
Second D1 Offer: Georgia State
Mario Luna Announces Orange Lutheran High School
Mario Luna’s Freshman Varsity Highlights at Orange Lutheran