Player Spotlight: Jason Cabinda

Audio/Story posted November 3, 2017 in CommRadio, Sports by Devon D'Andrea

Few may be aware, but this Penn State linebacker de-committed from Syracuse to take a later scholarship offer from Penn State. Now, Jason Cabinda is a senior captain at Penn State and a standout linebacker on the field. Cabinda began playing in his true freshman season, managing to start one game out of the nine he played in, and was named honorable-mention Big Ten All-Freshman team by BTN.com.

Since Cabinda’s freshman year, he has become an important part of the Nittany Lions’ defense, starting most games from his sophomore season to date. Cabinda has recorded eight double-digit tackle games - three in 2015, three in 2016, and so far, two in 2017. Cabinda continues to add more and more awards to his résumé with each year of play including:  Selection to multiple preseason trophy watch lists, a Helmet Sticker by ESPN’s “College Football Final”, Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week, and named to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week.

Recently, Cabinda has demonstrated his value to the team off the field. After focusing on his diet and conditioning in the offseason, he has grown into a mentor for younger players. More specifically, Cabinda has influenced sophomore Cam Brown, who has looked at Cabinda for guidance on and off the field, mastering the finer details and passion for the game.

“He (Cabinda) just showed me to love to compete, and loving to compete and finding that love in everything you do when it comes to football - lifting, how your diet is and everything like that,” Brown said.

This week, Cabinda’s leadership was on display after a tough loss to Ohio State.  Cabinda, along with his fellow captains, showed compassion and resolve when organizing a players-only meeting to insure the team is maintaining their positive spirit.

“I mean we just felt like, you know, there’s something we had to kind of get off our chests and just making sure that the mentality of the team was the same - we’re still taking the same approach and knowing that there’s a ton of football left - a lot still left to be accomplished so, kind of just reiterating those things,” Cabinda said.

Moving forward, Penn State travels to their second away game in a row, at Michigan State. The two teams will compete for the Land Grant Trophy that Penn State currently holds after defeating Michigan State, 45-12, last year. When Cabinda was asked about this trophy, he showed where his heart lies and the mentality behind saying there is more to be accomplished.

“I mean I think it’s cool kinda playing for a trophy, adding a little something to the game. Maybe a little more of an incentive to win, but for me it’s all about getting the dub. I could care less about the trophy. To me it’s about winning, that’s what I care about if I am going to be completely honest. But yeah, it’s about a win. We want the trophy to stay here, that’s how we want it to be. So, I mean really, it’s as simple as that - it’s winning so, that’s what we’ll get done,” Cabinda said.

As Penn State’s season progresses and as college football nears selection day for the 2017 playoffs, Jason Cabinda and the team will continue to work to play to their potential. You can count on Cabinda to continue to serve as a leader and a mentor on and off the field.  

 

Devon D’Andrea is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email dfd5220@psu.edu.