The Times’ 2025 football player of the year: Trent Mosley

Everyone seemed to know in the first quarter of the Southern Section Division 1 final at the Rose Bowl what Santa Margarita High was going to do over and over again: put the ball in Trent Mosley’s hands.

Every Santa Margarita offensive play in the first 12 minutes involved a Mosley pass or run.

“Why not?” said quarterback Trace Johnson.

In the end, Santa Margarita defeated Corona Centennial 42-7, with Mosley scoring four touchdowns and catching 10 passes for a stunning 292 yards. Two weeks later, he had 11 catches for 183 yards and scored three touchdowns in a 47-13 victory over De La Salle in the CIF Open Division state championship victory.

It was the culmination of a return to greatness for Mosley, who was the Trinity League Player of the Year as a sophomore then was slowed by injuries last season. He finally returned to health this season after an injury in the opener, and every opponent knew the challenge he posed.

Mosley was selected as The Times’ Southland football player of the year.

Trent Mosley lifts the Southern Section Division 1 championship trophy won by Santa Margarita at the Rose Bowl.

(Craig Weston)

There is no doubt that his talent comes from him: it is in his genes. His mother, Cindy, won the Heisman Trophy for football at Notre Dame. His father, Emmett, played football at Notre Dame. His sister, Jalyn, played football at Iowa. His brother, Emmett, is a receiver at Texas. Younger brother Grant is another of Santa Margarita’s top receivers. The three brothers saw who was the most competitive.

“Usually my basketball games with my brothers ended in fights. Video games, fights,” Trent said. “Glad to have the experience and their advice. »

There is no sport or position that Mosley cannot master. He loved playing lacrosse and his versatility is his superpower. When he shows up at USC, his college choice, the Trojans will have plenty of plans on how to use him, whether it’s at receiver, wild card quarterback, punt returner or kickoff returner.

Centennial coach Matt Logan called him “phenomenal.” De La Salle coach Justin Alumbaugh said, “Damn.

Mosley added some extra speed this season, which led to even more big plays and showed what he could do when healthy.

“The gifts that God has given me, training with off-season speed training and playing lacrosse two years ago — all that coming together is producing what I can do now,” he said.