Mission Viejo’s Colin Schooler is the O.C. defensive player of the year

Mission Viejo's Colin Schooler is the Register's defensive player of the year. He was a two-way standout for the Diablos, who went 11-1 and won the South Coast League title. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)
Mission Viejo's Colin Schooler is the Register's defensive player of the year. ‘He's probably the best linebacker that I've ever played against,' San Clemente's Brandon Reaves said. ‘He's just big, physical. He hits pretty hard.'(Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)
Mission Viejo's Colin Schooler recently received an offer to play linebacker at the University of Arizona. He is the Register's defensive player of the year. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)
Mission Viejo's Colin Schooler is the Register's defensive player of the year. The senior linebacker was part of a defense that allowed just 31 points in four league games. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)
Mission Viejo's Colin Schooler breaks through the line for a gain against Oak Hills.
Long Beach Poly quarterback Nolan McDonald, left, is tripped up by Mission Viejo linebacker Colin Schooler on Sept. 16, 2016. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register)
Mission Viejo's Colin Schooler runs over a Servite defender during the first round of the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs on Nov. 11, 2016. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)
Mission Viejo's Colin Schooler breaks away from the defense for a touchdown in the second round of the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs on Nov. 18, 2016. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)
Mater Dei's JT Daniels, left, Edison coach Dave White and Mission Viejo's Colin Schooler are the Register's winners of the top footall awards for this season. (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)
The Register's All-County Football team for the 2016 season. Front row, from left: JT Daniels (Mater Dei), Coach Dave White (Edison) and Colin Schooler (Mission Viejo). Second row: Stan Berryhill (Orange Lutheran), Brandon Reaves (San Clemente), Austin Osborne (Mission Viejo), Riley O'Brien (JSerra), Olaijah Griffin (Mission Viejo). Third row: Jarrett Patterson (Mission Viejo), Amon-Ra St. Brown (Mater Dei), Jack Sears (San Clemente), Osiris St. Brown (Mater Dei), Quentin Lake (Mater Dei), Chase McGrath (Mater Dei). Fourth row: Mike Saffell (Edison), Chase Garbers (Corona del Mar), Tae Le (Corona del Mar), John Stamos (Villa Park), Brandon McKinney (Orange Lutheran), EJ Ginnis (Edison), Ryan Stonehouse (Mater Dei), JJ Glass (San Juan Hills). Back row: Brett Neilon (Santa Margarita), Ryan Nelson (Buena Park), Tommy Brown (Mater Dei), Austin Faoliu (Mater Dei), Zach Ritner (Capistrano Valley), Kenny Carmichael (Edison), Cedric Dashiell II (Buena Park) and KC Carr (Tustin). (Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)

By Dan Albano | dalbano@scng.com | Orange County Register

December 27, 2016 at 10:54 p.m.

MISSION VIEJO As Colin Schooler tracked the San Clemente ballcarrier sprinting toward him, he spotted a small opening to exploit.

“I just remember seeing the kid running with the ball in the inside arm,” the Mission Viejo linebacker said. “As a running back (myself), I’m thinking that’s a mistake. You always run with (the ball in the) outside arm.

“I secured the tackle and I just went for the ball because we always want turnovers.”

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Schooler and the Diablos got what they wanted. The senior used his instincts to deliver a “Tomahawk” chop, forcing a fumble on the third play of the game that teammate Cade Covarrubias recovered.

Mission Viejo quickly took the lead on a touchdown reception by Schooler, but something more important occurred. Schooler set a tone for his teammates, and the future CIF State champion Tritons, on how the night would go.

The Diablos rolled to a 41-3 victory in the Week 10 contest to seal an eighth consecutive South Coast League title.

Schooler sparked Mission Viejo not just that night in San Clemente, but throughout the season, too, with big plays on both sides of the ball. For his efforts, he is the Register’s defensive player of the year.

“He’s probably the best linebacker that I’ve ever played against,” San Clemente All-County running back/wide receiver Brandon Reaves said of 6-foot-1, 220-pound Schooler, who was recently offered at linebacker by Arizona.

“He’s just big, physical. He hits pretty hard. We knew coming into the game that he was going to be a force.”

As he showed against San Clemente, Schooler’s greatest strength might be his instincts. He showed similar capability on a momentum-turning interception against Long Beach Poly.

In the third quarter with the score tied, Schooler returned an interception 65 yards for a score while playing help-coverage with Mission Viejo blitzing. The Diablos went on to win, 42-14.

“I had to go run over and cover … one of their receivers,” Schooler recalled. “Luckily, he ran a slant route right into me as I was running and the quarterback didn’t even see me.”

Schooler credits a block by fellow linebacker Michael Gazsi for clearing his path to the end zone, and he used “luckily” when describing the play. But one of his fiercest rivals believes Schooler’s instincts make the difference.

“He’s one of the most instinctual football players we played against,” said San Clemente All-County quarterback Jack Sears, a USC commit. “It allows him to play freely and just kind of play loose and trust in his abilities, which he does. He’s able to have a nose for the ball … It makes it tough as an offensive player.”

The scouting report on Schooler was well-known before the season. He was a first-team All-County selection at linebacker as a junior. As a sophomore at Trabuco Hills, he earned a share of the Sea View League’s defensive player of the year award.

Not surprisingly, offenses tried to avoid him as much as possible this fall.

“Especially versus Rancho Cucamonga,” Schooler said of the Diablos’ 42-26 loss in the second round of the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs. “I felt every single play, I’d have to run across the field to make a play. … I see it as a sign of respect, but it was also frustrating because I’m out here to play. I’m not out here to spectate.”

Despite teams trying to avoid Schooler, he finished as Mission Viejo’s second-leading tackler, behind junior linebacker Christian LaValle, with 77 total tackles.

“Defensively, I definitely played a lot faster and smarter than I did last year,” Schooler said. “As a team, we did really well, too. Unfortunately, (our season) was cut a little shorter than we’re used to.”

Schooler’s contributions to the second-ranked team in Orange County extended well beyond defense. He was a nearly full-time, two-way player for Mission Viejo (11-1).

As a running back, he averaged 11.5 yards per carry to finish with a team-leading 1,161 yards and 19 touchdowns. He added 21 receptions for 464 yards – 22.1 yards per reception – and six touchdowns.

As a junior, playing alongside his brother, Brenden, now playing at Oregon, Schooler didn’t move to the featured running back position until an injury to Isaiah Miller during the playoffs.

This season, Schooler handled the running back duties throughout thanks to improved speed and conditioning.

“Some of his runs were sick,” Mission Viejo coach Bob Johnson said of Schooler, who broke a 69-yard touchdown run against Trabuco Hills and 79-yarder against Rancho Cucamonga.

The combination of his offense and defense made Schooler the consensus top two-way player in Orange County. He also played tight end, fullback and wide receiver.

“Moving him around, baby,” Johnson said. “He’s a coach’s dream. He loves to play. … That’s not said very often, even by guys who have done just as well.”

The Diablos were careful not burn out Schooler.

“I was going on every single series on defense and (the coaches) didn’t want my offense to affect my defensive play,” Schooler said. “So they limited my touches and my carries (on offense).”

Schooler’s contributions on both sides of the ball made him an effective captain.

“He inspired me a lot,” Mission Viejo All-County cornerback/wide receiver Olaijah Griffin said. “Being a two-way player, you have to be mentally strong. … I just wanted to be as mentally strong as him.”

Add one more tone-setting moment to Colin Schooler’s impressive list.

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