On the offensive line, there is no glory for the lineman. Their role is to make the quarterback and the running back look good. That’s something the Broncos’ linemen seem to be very good at doing. Senior Mario Yakoo is one of those players. Right now, he is looking to set the tone for the Broncos this fall.
He isn’t a player that you will hear making many comments , but you will hear his voice by watching how he plays on the field. The soft-speaking giant is tipping the scales near 330 pounds, and he has learned from some of the greatest that have passed through the Bronco Football program.
“People that mentored me before were like o-lineman Charles Leno, Matt Paradis, Rees Odhiambo, Marcus. They’re all guys that mentored me, tried to get me into this position like he was destined to happen,” said, Senior OL Mario Yakoo.
Yakoo has become the go-to guy on the line, playing in 39 games and starting 26 times in the past two years. He continues to strive for more.
"I'm just trying to reach my full potential as a college player, try to get better every single day, and just try to help my brothers go out with a winning season."
The team welcomes him back from a shoulder injury that caused him to miss spring practices. The big fella has already proven his talent as he was an honorable mention, and an All-Mountain West selection last season.
"I think the o-line is the strength of our offense the strength of the team in general if we don't do what we’re supposed to do we don't perform this team is just going to perform as good as we do."
Coming out of high school, he had a chance to play for UCLA, but his scholarship wasn’t guaranteed. Even with his injury, Yakoo never lets anything stand in his way.
" How many guys have UCLA lost, they have lost a lot more games than we have and I'm the type of guy that likes to win, and at the end of the day I'm happy where I'm and I’m happy with the situation that I'm in, and I can't wait to get the season going."
Now Yakoo isn’t ruling out going pro when his time is up at Boise State. He says his focus remains with this team and getting set for the season opener against Louisiana-Lafayette. It’s also worth noting that Yakoo’s talent isn’t solely on the football field. He has also excelled in the classroom; being named to the Academic All-Mountain West three separate times.
