Whitworth’s Kyle Cosby bulks up quick for season
Kyle Cosby is living proof that, if you plant a seed in good soil and nurture it, it will blossom.
“When I got to Whitworth as a freshman I weighed about 230 pounds,” the University High grad said. “Once I got here, my body just matured. I guess I’m kind of a late bloomer.”
What Cosby matured into is impressive. As a 6-foot-7, 305-pound senior offensive tackle, Cosby entered the 2015 season as a first-team All-Northwest Conference performer and he’s been intent on building on that status.
“I completely changed in every way,” he said. “I got bigger, stronger and more athletic.”
As a freshman, Cosby served as the back-up to his older brother, Dalton, at left tackle. Between his freshman and sophomore seasons he put on 55 pounds of muscle and moved into the starting lineup at left guard, starting next to his brother.
As Whitworth heads into its conference opener, Homecoming against George Fox, Saturday at the Pine Bowl, the Pirates are 3-0 after handing Chapman a 37-7 walloping Saturday in Orange, California.
“Coming home 3-0 feels great,” Cosby said. “But 4-0 is going to feel a whole lot better.”
Cosby said the Bucs, under second-year head coach Rod Sandberg, have a policy: Celebrate a Saturday victory right up until film review on Monday. After that, turn the page and concentrate on the next game.
And the team does a good job doing that, Cosby said. Still, there’s an extra spring in everyone’s step, an extra dose of enthusiasm and definite uptick in enthusiasm when the team is on a roll and undefeated heading into the meat of its schedule.
Cosby’s road to Whitworth was set early on. With a brother already in the starting lineup, the younger Cosby had encouragement at U-Hi.
“One of our coaches at U-Hi, Don Ressa, was big on me going to Whitworth and he encouraged me to come here,” he said. “And I knew early on this was where I wanted to go. I loved the size of the school, I loved the setting and I loved the athletic program. And I loved the academic side of things here, too. For me, it was an easy decision to make.”
Long hours in the weight room and in film study goes into a successful college football career. In Cosby’s case, the foundation for all that work came at U-Hi.
“I was big into wrestling at U-Hi, too,” he said – adding that he wouldn’t be where he is now as a college athlete without being a U-Hi wrestler. “Our wrestling program was so tough. The workouts every day were terrible – but it was the kind of thing that you appreciate so much after you’re done. You learned the kind of toughness that you don’t learn anywhere else.
“I was small for a heavyweight in high school. But I learned coordination. I learned how to use my hands – getting the right hand placement, learning hand fighting. I learned about getting proper leverage to move a guy. It has helped me immensely playing college football.”
Cosby’s junior season was the first at Whitworth under Sandberg, who was hired after John Tully resigned after winning 100 games in 19 seasons.
“The new staff energized everything,” Cosby said. “They all care very much about each of us – they’re super caring. Not just as football players, but as people. Nothing was the same and it took us a while getting the feel for it all.”
This season picked up where the team left off – culminating in the dominant performance Saturday on the road.
“We’re playing so well right now and that feels great,” he said. “Our offense is really clicking, but what amazes me is the way our defense is playing right now. I’ve never seen our defense play the way it’s playing right now. They’re, like, plus five picks three games into the season. It’s fun to watch them play!”
Playing at home again will be a treat, he added.
“There is no place like the Pine Bowl,” he said. “It’s a great place to play and it’s great to have everyone come down on the field and celebrate with us after. My family comes to every game, my brother comes and I always have friends at every home game. It’s an incredible atmosphere.”