LOS ANGELES — At a glance, USC’s linebacking counterparts Easton Mascarenas-Arnold and Eric Gentry couldn’t appear more juxtaposed.
Mascarenas-Arnold is the stocky rocket ship that any offensive player would avoid taking a hit from. At 231 pounds, he represents the Trojans’ ordinance to add muscle and weight across the defense.
Then there’s Gentry, who towers over the Oregon State transfer and most of his teammates, for that matter. Newly hired positional coach Matt Entz is hoping to play Gentry, a lanky linebacker in a wide receiver’s body, all over the field.
While Mascarenas-Arnold and Gentry display stark contrasts in their builds, Entz, who is also USC’s assistant head coach for defense, has noticed they possess mindsets that complement one another.
“Easton is kind of a prototypical Mike in what we’re looking to do, very heady, very smart.” Entz said after USC’s eighth spring practice Thursday. “Then you have a guy like Eric, who plays at multiple spots. Eric is all about, ‘the next play is the most important one.’”
That attitude is invaluable for the 6-foot-6 Gentry as he enters a season when he’ll shift with each snap. To learn that malleable role, Entz said he’s trying to take him out of his comfort zone.
Gentry, though, feels pretty comfortable.
“I’m taking the scheme in a lot,” he said. “It’s not complicated.”
It’s a flip of the coin from where he was during the 2023 campaign. He was a playmaker making plays, in small spurts, that is, finishing with 26 total tackles, four tackles for a loss, four pass breakups, an interception and forced fumble over 12 games. His flow was disrupted by long stints on the sideline.
His confidence is growing with the increased expectations. It’s evident in his facial expressions, too. There’s a visible trust from Entz and USC’s new look defensive staff.
“They know what to do,” said Gentry, who missed all of spring camp in 2023, recovering from ankle surgery from a 2022 injury. “They know where to put me at, and they’re making me feel comfortable being wherever I’m at.”
The words from Gentry and Entz seem to line up. Gentry will go from flying on and off the field, to all around it, with consistency. It’s a role that has altered his approach.
While his teammates have gained weight, notably in the form of muscle, he’s remained limber; though Entz and head coach Lincoln Riley claim Gentry has size milestones he’s yet to hit. Gentry said he’s changed to watching film of NFL players such as Isaiah Simmons, Fred Warner, specifically off the ball, and Micah Parsons.
Those linebackers all have pass rush and coverage skills, and Entz sees those in Gentry.
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“You typically don’t have a 6-6 linebacker, but he can impact some things,” Entz said. “He’s got rush value, he’s big in zones. When we’re playing just some big zone defense, all of a sudden his arms go from the hash to the numbers. He’s just a big body out there. I think we’re going to continue to find some other sub-packages, ways to utilize him because he’s twitchy too. He’s not just a big, long kid. He runs well, he understands football, asks tremendous questions in meetings, always trying to get better.”
It’s that last part that’s caught Entz’s attention. He’s tried to extract it out of Gentry, encouraging him to share his next-play mentality with teammates.
Mascarenas-Arnold, a first-team All-Pac-12 selection for the Beavers in 2023, has found it helpful.
“I’ve been trying to work on leading a group of guys and keeping a neutral mindset,” he said. “I think (Gentry) really helps me not dwell on the past.”
Gentry said there’s not another player in the country who shares his measurables. Not in an arrogant way, he assured. Regardless, it’s his mind that has impressed Entz through eight practices, leading the coach to believe Gentry can fulfill a role defined by flexibility.
