Tobias Raymond: Driven by His 'Why'
Natalie Miller, USC Football Communications Student Assistant
8/28/2026
She was there.
Not physically in the stands of the eighth grade football game, but she was on a FaceTime call. She watched her son take his first steps into the game that would ultimately become so much more than a sport.
Football was far from the only sport redshirt junior offensive lineman Tobias Raymond shared with his mom. She coached his youth basketball and soccer teams, while also closely following the other teams his siblings were playing as well.
“She was an athlete too,” he added, “Always excited to be involved in the sports we played.”
But Raymond’s mother would not be there to witness all that followed. Not long after, she passed away from cancer.
Years later, football has carried Raymond much farther than he could have ever imagined that day of his first eighth grade game. And although his mom would not get to see all of it, in many ways, she has been there for every step.
“She’s my ‘why’,” said Raymond confidently, “It’s definitely a motivator. It’s not easy to have things like that happen and keep focused, but you still have to work through it.”
For Raymond, “working through it” didn't mean facing it alone. He leaned on his close-knit family, including his siblings, who share his passion for athletics.
His older brother ran track, his younger sister plays volleyball at Vanguard University and his younger brother plays high school football. Athletics have always been a common thread in his family, as has looking out for one another.
“Going through something that difficult together brought us closer and made us stronger,” Raymond said.
Raymond used the experience as an opportunity to become a role model for his siblings, ensuring his actions were intentional and positive.
“I’m trying to set an example for them that, yes, it’s OK to be emotional, but when you step on the field, you have a job to do,” he said.
Raymond attributes his incredibly positive nature to this grandfather, Allen.
“He would always say, ‘If you’re going to do something, you might as well do it to the best of your ability,’ Raymond recounted.
That’s the same mindset he takes with him to the practice field and preaches to the rest of the offensive line.
“Even if 90% of your day went wrong, you still got 10% right,” he said. “Focusing on the positive and understanding why it worked for you is so important.”
Throughout his Trojan career, Raymond has taken reps in practice at every position on the offensive line and has started in all but center and right guard in a game. This versatility has helped shape him into a team leader with a wealth of knowledge to share.
“If I see one of the younger guys struggling, I can offer guidance because I’ve been in that position before and understand what they’re thinking,” he said.
Raymond felt the turning point of his leadership development was at the conclusion of spring ball in 2025.
“Before then, I kept my head down and focused on getting better every day,” he said. “But after spring ball, I felt much more comfortable being vocal on the field and stepping into a leadership role.”
And step into that role he did. Raymond’s leadership extends beyond the line of scrimmage. In 2025, Raymond was honored with the 2025 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, the Fred Jacoby Sportsmanship Award and USC’s Bob Chandler Award, each recognizing his outstanding leadership, integrity and character.
“Tobias has truly emerged as a leader,” redshirt senior tight end Carson Tabaracci said. “The way he shows up and competes every single day has been incredibly impressive.”
Outside of football, Raymond can often be found on the pickleball court of the Bloom Football Performance Center or behind the grill alongside the rest of the offensive line. His skills on the grill have impressed the entire team, and he has hosted several team barbecues to celebrate the end of spring ball and bring teammates together during the offseason.
That is simply who Raymond is: a well-rounded athlete, a grill master, a devoted brother and a trusted mentor to his teammates.
His mom was there from the beginning, watching his first football game over FaceTime. In every step since, Raymond has carried her memory with him, building a career and a life rooted in the lessons, love and strength she left behind. And each time he steps onto the field, his “why” steps with him.
