Gregori defensive lineman Osborne named Blue/Grey All-American

Few that have played for coach Jason McCoy have endured the kind of heartache that has besieged Michael Osborne.

The Gregori High School defensive lineman buried his mother, Brandy Henderson, in April after she died unexpectedly of heart failure. She was just 37 and leaves behind three young children, including twin daughters.

Yet the devastation of spring bloomed a summer of hope.

Two months after his mother’s death, Osborne was invited to a Blue/Grey All-American regional combine, where he was named the top performer and fastest on foot among 60-plus linemen.

That performance launched his star on the recruiting trail, and today, McCoy is happy to report no player under his watch has been more deserving of the limelight.

Osborne has been selected to play in the Blue/Grey All-American Bowl on Jan. 16 in Jacksonville, Fla. He will represent the Blue squad at EverBank Field, home of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. Though rosters haven’t been officially released, a staff member with Blue/Grey Football confirmed Osborne’s invitation.

“I couldn’t be more proud of him. It’s great to see young men have success come their way,” McCoy said. “Everything he’s receiving right now, he’s earned. The accolades are going to continue to come if he has a good season and continues to be a leader.”

Blue/Grey Football will host three All-American games at NFL stadiums, including a traditional East vs. West bowl at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The other will take place at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa , Fla.

Osborne was picked to play in Jacksonville after surprising many with his performances at two combines at the College of San Mateo early in the summer. He was invited to the regional combine in June, where he was the top lineman and fastest on foot for a heavyweight.

The 6-foot-1, 260-pound senior was asked back for the exclusive Super West Regional in July. Osborne feared an average performance ruined any chance he might have at an All-American honor.

He thought wrong.

“I knew there was a chance, but that it was very slim,” he said. “I did my best and my best paid off majorly. I almost cried from the joy. I literally jumped from excitement. An opportunity like this is a one-time thing.”

Fate picked the right young football player. No one, at least in McCoy’s eyes, is more deserving of the mantle of All-American. Osborne is a blue-collar worker who built himself in the weight and film rooms. He found the time and energy to market himself to college coaches while mourning the death of his mother.

“It’s a willingness to do what others won’t do. A willingness to lift everyday. A willingness to watch more film online. A willingness to put himself in that situation to compete against the best kids in Northern California, which he didn’t do in the past,” McCoy said. “It’s a willingness to put yourself in that arena.

“You have to expose yourself, so he did all the little things. He put together his own highlight film. He reached out to colleges, went to camps and combines. He took the initiative to get himself exposed, and that’s been his key.”

Osborne has received interest from Sacramento State, Cal Poly and Arizona Christian. The national platform in Jacksonville – the game will be covered by USA Today, ESPN.com and Fox Sports, among others – could land him on recruiting boards beyond the West Coast.

The interior lineman averaged nearly a sack per game last season for the playoff-bound Jaguars but missed two games with headaches.

“I want to learn and get better for this game. I want the skills I have to get better and translate to the next level,” Osborne said. “And I hope this opens doors for my future in the recruiting process. This will get my name out there, and I’m so thankful for this opportunity.”

McCoy hopes the young players in his program are taking notes.

“It’s good for any kid in our program to see, regardless if you’re a senior or a freshman. To see a young man go through all that adversity and still make something of it,” McCoy said. “He could have made excuses. ‘Yeah, I’ve dealt with some injuries and dealt with my mom passing away, but I’m going to keep grinding and keep working.’

“If kids can see that, it doesn’t matter where you come from or what you have – if you have a goal or a vision and you want to accomplish something, you can do it. But you have to pay the price … you have to work for it. Nothing has been handed to him. That’s what I want our kids in the program to see.”

This story was originally published August 25, 2015 at 8:29 PM with the headline "Gregori defensive lineman Osborne named Blue/Grey All-American."